Why Dustbin Films 

    Dustbin films were made cheaply usually for  a technical audience. Once they had served their purpose they were discarded often into a dustbin.   For over 40 years I have been collecting such films and they form an insight into the past.  


       16mm cameras only came in to use by the 1930s. By that date for there was a need to publicise  up to date methods. Naturally film producers were more interested in that than what they considered obsolete equipment.    Whether  a particular film  will match your  interest is up to you. If you ask a question first we will do out best to answer them     .  
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   Who watched them when they were made?
      Before the spread of television and video  if the machine was not there they were the only way to show  machinery in use and at work and actually moving. This makes them far more interesting than even a glossy colour leaflet.

      Bear in mind  typically most of the equipment featured  would be the more up to date or  only just introduced when a particular film was made. The object was to encourage people who saw the film to think better of the films sponsors.  

       Machines  are better filmed doing a typical days work.  It also makes it possible to feature equipment   that would never be sold in a particular country. Many implement only had a seasonal role.  Equally films  are ideal for showing to export customers. The target audience for these Dustbin Films would have been Farmers their tractor drivers  and potential tractor drivers and machinery dealers staff.       

        Before television was widespread a film show was sufficient attraction to get people to travel to a  place to where they could watch the films. Usually it was   after a hard days work so the producers would ensure they were not too boring. Now of course they are fascinating not just for the equipment  actually featured  but what else was shown in the background.       

 Why have they been rescued?

      Films used to be  a vital method of getting the sales message across.  Only a very few copies were made of a particular title  due to the cost of film. Once the the film  was superseded the title would be deleted and the films typically discarded. These titles are typical of the sort of films that have somehow survived  long enough to be rescued by the Dustbin Film Collection.

       By you having your own   DVD record of a film its contents can be studied without risk of damage to what could be the last remaining  copy of an old film. For anybody interested  they provide an insight into how the subject  was promoted at the time rather than with later hindsight.  .    


         Many other titles are listed by PAL5047 so check them out to see what appeals to your interests. Specific details of individual films vary but use Question to Seller if you have a query. Dates are only approximate but they will give you an idea. 
          As far as we know few of these films feature on commercially available DVDs  from other sources.  In most cases we have still got the ORIGINAL FILM that this DVD  was made from.       

These are all films with a John Deere  tractor bias.  There are others but these are a start. The Dustbin Films library contains many films on mechanical topics. 

2 Power on the Land  a good general look at mechanisation

8 Royal Show Lincoln  early view of Ferguson and plough.

6 JD sales film from 1936  which is excellent for its period

59 US Film includes JD in experiment on tyres.

104 Building of JD Combines

251 Canadian film  1974 encouraging more people to come to Canada. 

599 Claydon furrow cracker  demonstration  no commentary  modern JD  4wd tractor

728 JD pulling balers in film on pigs.

957 History of Cat and JD mixed in early days

1016 Compilation   957 +3 other films

1356 May be 6  part only

1467 Compilation  59 + 3 other films

  


 


If in doubt ask a question before you order for a fair answer 

Other items that could be of interest

 

 

Tractors of the 1950s Test report of an early example in each case Large choice. Farmer buying a new tractor used to rely on these for impartial information 

 

Oil sample reveals much about any sort of engine. Test it BEFORE you buy it Provides vital information if you are buying a tractor of any age and nearly all models 

 

Sectioned Line Drawing of vintage tractors, choice of makes, how they work.  Shows what is going on under the casings  out of sight.