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Above: still frames from Ron’s 16mm film The Magic Illusion, showing some of his collection.

There was also a segment about the early Extra by Mike Trickett
Australian silent classic, The Sentimental
Bloke and another about an early Ned As one who did attend the auction, I can
Kelly Gang film. I’m not sure if he made add a little bit extra. Yes, it was poorly
other films, so my copy may be the only advertised and the descriptions of the
one around. items provided by the Auction House
were very sketchy and in many cases
Ron travelled around a lot visiting other inaccurate.
cinemas, even as far afield as South
Australia. Ron was also a member of the To prove this point, I managed to buy
Bendigo Camera Club, and attended the Ron’s 17.5mm Pathe Home Talkie
Club regularly. projector and the films that he had for it.
As these machines were quite rare in
After his parents passed away he worried Australia, I expected it to fetch a couple of
about his projector collection. One night hundred dollars. But the auctioneers had
after leaving the camera club, he had a cataloged it as a (non-operational) FILM
massive heart attack in the main street of PRINTER! As a result, it was knocked
Bendigo. An ambulance was called, but down to me for my opening bid of $20.00!
Ron had died before they could reach the
hospital. I first met Ron at the Photographic
Collectors Society’s annual buy and sell
Ron’s collection of movie equipment was days, which at that time were held at the
so extensive they needed a very large Camberwell Town Hall. We were both
truck to shift it all. Much of it was hidden members of the PCS at the time, and
away under the house and no one ever would often discuss what we had in our
knew where it was. respective collections. I had made a
number of attempts to buy that 17.5mm
The collection was auctioned off at a St projector from him, but he was never in
Kilda auction house, by all accounts it the selling mood.
was poorly advertised.
It finally came my way, but after we lost
Those who attended the auction at the another dedicated collector.
time may be able tell you more. A few bits
and pieces were left at the house, but apart
from that, nothing else was heard.
REEL DEALS December 2024 17