[Phono-L] Kinetoscope film inquiry Value?

[Rich]

The acetate also deteriorates, differently but still goes away.  If its 
commercial acetate it is marked on the side of the film  "safety film".

Andrew Baron wrote:
> Thanks, Al for these observations on value, which make perfect sense.   
> I also appreciate your comments on nitrate and acetate film.  Do you  
> happen to know when the industry as a whole (or for the most part)  
> switched over to Acetate?  I have some 16 mm films that I should  
> probably take a sniff at, but if I know for example that these were  
> all made after 1935 and the industry changed over to acetate by 1930,  
> then there would be less risk of them being deteriorating nitrate.
> 
> Best,
> Andy
> 
> On Aug 23, 2008, at 2:00 AM, ClockworkHome at aol.com wrote:
> 
>> The value of Home Kinetoscope films vary so much that a firm set  
>> price is
>> like asking what a Blue Amberol will sell for.  The topic is all  
>> important to the
>> collector.  The Home Kinetoscopes were used by police departments for
>> training films which a law enforcement collector would pay a high  
>> for while a topic
>> like "storm waves hitting the Jersey shore" may only bring $50 which  
>> is
>> generally the lowest I have seen.  So, prices start at $50 and go as  
>> high as $2,500
>> for a presidential parade and inauguration.  The special films were  
>> normally
>> lost in time so projector collectors are usually just happy to have  
>> one of
>> something they can put on a Home Kinetoscope for display purposes.   
>> The only way to
>> determine what "Cocoa Production in the West Indies" would be truly  
>> worth is
>> to put it on eBay and see how high it goes.  As a chocoholic I would  
>> bid to
>> $100 ! ! !
>>
>> Some of the films were on nitrate film stock rather than acetate  
>> safety film.
>> Any old film that has a smell of vinegar usually means that it is  
>> nitrate
>> and becoming unstable.  Edison's use of acetate later became the  
>> industry
>> standard "safety film" as the old nitrate burns dangerously fast.  I  
>> have run
>> nitrate film in a fireproof projection booth with blast doors and  
>> metal drop slides
>> over the projection ports.  You don't want nitrate film in your home.
>>
>> Best Wishes,
>>
>> Al
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find  
>> your travel
>> deal here.
>> (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)
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