Hellen Keller 1930's film reel

hi everyone. I've stumbled across an interesting piece at my grandmother's house.
she claims it to be a news reel movie footage of hellen keller from the 30's.
I've put some of the film to the light and seen a face that surely looks like that of hellen keller. also I've seen a steep mountain range and a couple guys playing golf if that stands out to any enthusiast to what exactly this might be.

Just curious as to how I might get more information on this and what it might be worth?
I was thinking of just mounting it on my wall as decoration but then I was told it was of hellen keller so I thought maybe a collector would want this.

 

I think a newsreel from the 1930s would have definite collector appeal. Maybe a local library (or school) would have a projector that would allow you to see the whole thing. Knowing specifically what's on it would make a big difference. There are also services that will convert film to digital media, but I know nothing about them other than that they exist.

(I wonder how many schools have 16mm projectors gathering dust in some supply closet.)

 

Helen keller was an amazing woman,sadly,young people these days aren't really aware of her. Id imagine film from that period would be very brittle,so handle very carefully. if its not too expensive,Id get it copied onto a dvd. Its a window into a different world.

 

Be careful if you have anyone copy it for you do not know if they will for themselves.......
I have 88 year old film I am terrified of having copies made for they are one of a kind and historically important.

 

You might want a word with a film expert to see just how much longer that film will be viable......at that age it may have already started to break down....or be a fire hazzard...

 

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=...er.pdf&usg=AFQjCNF9RRxh92bV3tyaH-4xIxl6A5Sqgw

about film...

 

You can talk to the people in the moving pictures part of the US National Archives about old films, they are in National Archives 2 in College Park, MD. I doubt it is the old, highly flammable nitrate film due to the look of it, but find out for sure. Looks to be in very good condition. That was a good suggestion, to locate a 16mm projector and watch it all to see exactly what you have. Film may show scenes from 1930s but if I had to guess from the reel and container, this particular copy was made no earlier than 1950's. But I really don't know much about motion pictures.

 

I used to love seeing one of those containers on my physics teachers desk!! Not only did that mean no class that day, but I have a passion for documentaries which persists to this day.

"How Things Are Made" is a fave!

 

We used to get excited when we saw the film strip projector!

 

I have my family's 16 mm projector stored away. My father bought it with a 16mm Revere camera c1949. The projector was still working back in the 1990s when I had my family's c1949 to c1960 home movies transposed or whatever to VCR cassettes. About 10 years ago had those VCRs converted or whatever to CDs. Now am wondering about moving them to DVRs, Blue Ray or whatever formats?? In the mid 1960s DH bought an 8 mm camera and projector. In hardly 20 years that system became archaic. Seems like every time I turn around new media comes along making it a necessity to update everything. Welll, at least today there is sofware for doing all this oneself.

--- Susan

 

Hi Susan,
I had a friend that got all of his dad's 16mil film transferred to cds and threw away the originals. He played the cd so many times they got scratched and degraded..
I TOLD him to keep the originals but did he listen. I had a lot of photos taken on my first cruise on the OLD Queen Mary. Had them converted to slides, thank goodness since the color photographs have faded to be almost unrecognizable but the slides are fine.
greg

 

i'm going to try bringing it to the library this week and see if anyone there has advice and/or a projector. the film does seem to be in great condition. doesn't feel brittle. if it is a copy from the 50's which the good condition may suggest...does that mean it wouldn't have much value because it wouldn't be an original film? or more value because it's in good condition and usable? as far as antique appraisers and film experts go, I haven't found any in the area but it seems its worth traveling for... I just wish I could find a ballpark to see how much it may be worth...which would dictate how far i'm willing to travel for an expert. I haven't found any information out there on what similar items have gone for at auctions once authenticated. is there any way to find out?
I always hear of historical artifacts or antiques or celebrity memorabilia sold on ebay for X amount on antique shows or the news but even that stuff I can't seem to find evidence of.
sorry I don't know anything about antiques or auctions.

 

BE CAREFUL!!!
Such film can break into pieces as it tracks!
An 'editor' will likely be better to view it though moved only by hand.

 

So it's YOUR fault!
STOP turning around!!!