Page 2 - RD_March_2013.pdf

REEL DEALS

Twenty Years of Reel Deals
Earlier in the year, I promised a special edition of RD to celebrate 20 years of Reel Deals. Well finally, only a
couple of editions late – here it is. This edition contains a 12 page article on color film, complete with color
illustrations.

The History
The first edition of RD was published in April 1993, it was a very thin booklet of about a dozen pages; it was
home photocopied and posted to about 30 collectors. For the first year of so it was free to get it off the
ground.

RD was started following the death in about 1992 of a well know Melbourne film collector, Reg. Wildman.
For many years Reg. produced a list of films for sale, which he sent to a number of collectors. To obtain the
list, you had to be on his ‘trusted’ list. Film collecting was considered a clandestine activity!

Reg. also acted as an intermediately for buyers and sellers, charging a commission of 10% for his trouble.
Most buyers and sellers did not know the name of the other party they were dealing with.

At that time the only other option was to buy film from the pages of The Big Reel, a monthly publication
from the USA. With the low Australian Dollar, the high postage costs and slow delivery from the USA, it was
not a very attractive alternative.

I decided about that time that a small booklet, containing a list of films for sale would be worthwhile, but
with a few differences. Sellers would have to be prepared to sell direct to other collectors, the last thing I
wanted, was to be stuck in the middle of a transaction with one of the parties unhappy with the deal.

At that time I often had a table at the Melbourne Photographic Market, so the idea was promoted there, as
well as to those whom I knew personally.

As it turns out, this was for the best. Many subscribers have commented on how many other collectors they
have met and have become friends with through the pages of RD.

The slogan “Keeping Film Collectors in Touch” was introduced some years ago, as that was pretty much
what RD was doing.

ENQUIRIES:
MIKE TRICKETT 25 FAIRLIE STREET NORTH GEELONG VIC. 3215

PH: AH. 03 5278 1986
Email: filmman@ncable.net.au

REEL DEALS NET SITE: www.reeldeals.com.au

For subscription rates – see inside of the back cover