I know that thrift stores can be a great source for finding 8mm cameras and equipment here in the states. Well I was wondering what the thrift store situation is like in Germany and Austria? I will be there for 2 weeks in May and so I was just curious about this. Thanks,
Scott
thrift stores/second hand stores in Europe
Moderator: Andreas Wideroe
i wish
i'll tell you something, it's not that good in the States. (for me at least)
I'm the manager of a thrift store. I've had my eyes wide open for a year and a half and I haven't seen one piece of super8 equipment come through.
There was that one little 8mm projector, but it was basically worthless for any real use.
I'm the manager of a thrift store. I've had my eyes wide open for a year and a half and I haven't seen one piece of super8 equipment come through.
There was that one little 8mm projector, but it was basically worthless for any real use.
In the UK there are second hand shops that are commercial, but most of them are run by charities.
A few years ago cine kit was often common, but not today. I think the charity shops are a bit more with it and often sift out high value kit before it goes into the shop. I suspect some of the eBay sellers are probably acting for charity shops. Similarly for commercial dealers, many of them are a bit more canny and know that there is a bigger market out their than their local shop can deal with.
In the UK 'flea' markets can still be a good source. Especially when many of the stands are run by amateurs. I recently picked up a Canonet Regular 8 for 10 GBP (16 USD/ 15 EUE). Not a massive bargain, but dealers usually want a lot more.
I thought Jumble Sales were a thing of the past, but driving through Harrogate on a recent Saturday morning there was a queue outside a church hall. Harrogate by the way is probably a good area for good 2nd hand bargains as it is an upmarket retirement zone.
Table top sales can be a good source basically being indoo boot (trunk) fairs.
While I do not go out of my way to find these sales, if there is one nearby I always try and take a look, the other half usually decamps to M&S :lol:
A few years ago cine kit was often common, but not today. I think the charity shops are a bit more with it and often sift out high value kit before it goes into the shop. I suspect some of the eBay sellers are probably acting for charity shops. Similarly for commercial dealers, many of them are a bit more canny and know that there is a bigger market out their than their local shop can deal with.
In the UK 'flea' markets can still be a good source. Especially when many of the stands are run by amateurs. I recently picked up a Canonet Regular 8 for 10 GBP (16 USD/ 15 EUE). Not a massive bargain, but dealers usually want a lot more.
I thought Jumble Sales were a thing of the past, but driving through Harrogate on a recent Saturday morning there was a queue outside a church hall. Harrogate by the way is probably a good area for good 2nd hand bargains as it is an upmarket retirement zone.
Table top sales can be a good source basically being indoo boot (trunk) fairs.
While I do not go out of my way to find these sales, if there is one nearby I always try and take a look, the other half usually decamps to M&S :lol:
New web site and this is cine page http://www.picsntech.co.uk/cine.html
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Guest
There are a lot of jumble sales still going on in church halls, I got my first s8 camera that way and my first projector too - but that was back in 1986.
Still there are bargains to be had, but I agree the charity shops are getting wiser. There's a little s/h shop on Cricklewood Broadway (NW London) about street numer 200 called DH Thomson who usually get about 3 cine cameras each year in their front window. The last was a PolaVision S8 (the Polaroid thing) for £5, and before that a mint Miller std 8mm clockwork with case and instructions for £10.
I didn't buy either but I walk past that shop on my way to work every day before it opens and again after it closes on my way home :evil:
Still there are bargains to be had, but I agree the charity shops are getting wiser. There's a little s/h shop on Cricklewood Broadway (NW London) about street numer 200 called DH Thomson who usually get about 3 cine cameras each year in their front window. The last was a PolaVision S8 (the Polaroid thing) for £5, and before that a mint Miller std 8mm clockwork with case and instructions for £10.
I didn't buy either but I walk past that shop on my way to work every day before it opens and again after it closes on my way home :evil:
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Guest
well hopefully I will come across something cool while I am there. I am planning on shooting a few rolls while i am there. What I would like to do is come up with some kind of a script for a really short film just because I am sure there will be lots of beautiful places to shoot on location. We'll see how that goes.
~Scott
~Scott
I think eBay has played a big part in destroying what was once known as "the thrift shop experience"--finding great gear at extremely low prices. More and more people, under the illusion that their old Gaf "antique" camera is worth a lot of money, have put their gear up for auction on eBay. From the seller's POV, it makes a lot of sense--you're more likely to reach your targeted audience, and you'll make some money, too. From what I understand, most thrift shops accept only donations.
There are several thrift shops in the area in which I live, but only two have R8/S8 gear on display on a regular basis. I spoke with one of the employees of one of the stores, and she told me that they had plenty of 8 millimeter equipment gathering dust in the backroom. Why they only have a few cameras/projectors out on display then is a mystery to me...
I've been to enough garage sales to write a doctoral thesis on the selling habits of the average American consumer, but I have yet to stumble across anything eight millimeter related.
Tom
There are several thrift shops in the area in which I live, but only two have R8/S8 gear on display on a regular basis. I spoke with one of the employees of one of the stores, and she told me that they had plenty of 8 millimeter equipment gathering dust in the backroom. Why they only have a few cameras/projectors out on display then is a mystery to me...
I've been to enough garage sales to write a doctoral thesis on the selling habits of the average American consumer, but I have yet to stumble across anything eight millimeter related.
Tom
Just to confirm my suspicions. My local charity shop has two Brownie Box Cameras in the window. 9 and 10 GBP which judging by eBay prices is the going rate. Obviously there is someone in the know working with that shop.
Maybe the solution is volunteer to help with these shops, and then one can have the 'pick' (for a contribution of course). But you did not read that here. :twisted:
Maybe the solution is volunteer to help with these shops, and then one can have the 'pick' (for a contribution of course). But you did not read that here. :twisted:
New web site and this is cine page http://www.picsntech.co.uk/cine.html
Charity (thrift) shops in the UK are certainly not the sources they used to be. There are a numbr of reasons.
Firstly, due to OTT EU regulations that benefit new equipment suppliers more than customers, most won't trade in (mains) electrical items; hence, no projectors, editors, movie lights.
Next, the big chains collect specialist items centrally and concentrate them in their main shops.
Finally, yes, they do sell on Ebay. It gets them round both safety and guarantee requirements.
The shops to search are local charities. Forget the national chains, but if you see a shop whose charity do don't recognise, it may be local, and your chances much better.
Firstly, due to OTT EU regulations that benefit new equipment suppliers more than customers, most won't trade in (mains) electrical items; hence, no projectors, editors, movie lights.
Next, the big chains collect specialist items centrally and concentrate them in their main shops.
Finally, yes, they do sell on Ebay. It gets them round both safety and guarantee requirements.
The shops to search are local charities. Forget the national chains, but if you see a shop whose charity do don't recognise, it may be local, and your chances much better.