Collecting Filmstrips
03.02.08 By Derek DahlsadKids these days: they don’t remember education the way us thirty-somethings do. Back in our day, there wasn’t educational ’software’ or ‘video’ — there were two multimedia formats: movies and filmstrips. 
Movies were a rare pleasure — there were fewer of them, and they prevented class interaction. ‘Sit and watch’ was the process; we once had one obviously-bored teacher who, after watching a rather boring film in music class, let us watch the movie backwards rather than rewinding it the regular way. But, I digress…
While movies are a technology supplanted by a newer format — video — filmstrips have become an archaic format. Educational software somewhat resembles the filmstrip, but surpasses the filmstrip’s capability with alternate routes to the end. A filmstrip is essentially a slideshow accompanied by audio of some sort. If you’re of my age, you’re very familiar with the ‘when you hear this noise *beep* hit the advance button’ warning at the beginning of a strip’s audio. The more attentive or popular students were entrusted with the duty of controlling the filmstrip projector, although untrusting teachers may have chosen to run it themselves. Filmstrips, unlike movies, allowed the teacher to stop the process mid-stride and add comments, answer questions, and maybe discipline unruly audience-members. I admit, I never actually read A Wrinkle In Time, so my entire knowledge of the book comes from a 24-frame filmstrip we watched in the third grade. As you might guess, my understanding of the book is more hole-filled than had I read the Cliff’s Notes, and given the mind-bending qualities of the book I really had no idea what was going on. Still, I learned a lot — the Dewey Decimal system, the metric system, dialling with an area code — from filmstrips over the years.
Filmstrips are on my mind because of an amazing find today at a thrift shop: a DuKane Super Micromatic slide-film projector. When I was in school, filmstrips were projected out of small plastic projectors with a tape-player built into the back-end. This projector, when unpacked from its condensed case, has a full-sized record player attached. Filmstrips have been around a lot longer than the innovation of the compact cassette in the 
1970s, so of course the media of the 1950s was distributed on record album. For example, my Esther Williams Swimming Pool filmstrip came as a filmstrip with a 45rpm record album (recorded only on one side). The salesman brought along his portable filmstrip viewer to the potential customer’s home, loaded the film, put on the record, and Esther Williams herself could present her pools’ virtues in her own voice.
Portable viewers were available when I was on school, too: they were available if you missed a day of school and – god forbid — missed an absolutely essential filmstrip. As with the plastic, cassette-enabled filmstrip projectors, these machines were plastic and flimsy. The Esther Williams Swimming Pool distributor carried around this behemoth — the DuKane Flip-Top Sound Slidefilm Projector. When I first picked it up at a flea market, I was certain it was a portable record player. It had all the hallmarks of a turntable: recessed knobs, heavy-duty hinges, a large cloth-covered speaker grill, ugly patterned leathette outside. However, upon opening it, I was surprised 
to find a screen underneath.
The projectors are difficult to find in good working condition, as with any older media, but I’ve found filmstrips many places. Library sales are of course a good source for filmstrips, but I’ve found them at rummage sales of ex-teachers, religious films at church sales, and at flea markets. As most libraries and educational sources have long since moved on to video, much of the filmstrip libraries have already been liquidated.
The filmstrip media is essentially the same 35mm slide film you use to document your travels to Knott’s Berry Farm. As such, it’s subject to the same sort of fading and color-shift you find in all slides from the sixties. Finding a good-quality film will prove difficult, since exposure to heat accelerates the reaction, and if the filmstrip saw regular use in school it will have felt a lion’s share of heat every time it was shown. Also, if the filmstrip is from the 1940s or later, you will have to find the accompanying recording, or the ‘narration sheet.’ Some strips had the narration on the frames, like a silent movie, but when sound was added quite often the frames carry no information and require the narration to understand. If you’re at a sale, some well-meaning salesperson may have properly organized by placing the record or tape in the 
box with their KISS and Skid Row cast-offs; if you find a lone filmstrip, always ask if the recording is still around.
While I don’t endorse it, if you absolutely must project a found filmstrip and are without the equipment, any photolab that develops slide film should be able to cut the filmstrip and mount it in slide frames for a nominal fee. The tape cassette or album with the narration can be played on any compatible player. The simplicity and compatibility of filmstrips made them an excellent tool for teaching, but the advances of technology have made them obsolete. If you haven’t noticed, the wifey and I love the obsolete — now that we have a full-fledged working filmstrip projector, we hatched a plan: Using a regular 35mm camera loaded with slide film and our Recordio record-album recorder, we can make our own filmstrips. Our kids will think we’re the coolest parents ever, right?
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Article Tags: audio synchronization, collecting, dukane, education, filmstrip, grade school, projector================
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March 3rd, 2008 at 7:29 am
I can’t wait to use the Recordio, get the real (film) cameras, and make the kids do silly things for our home made filmstrips — with sound
March 26th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hi there I have come across a DuKane FlipTop.\
I have no clue to its value or what it is for maybe a record placer projection type of thing.
I would appreciate any information you can give me the Model # 14A533f
plays 33 1/3 or 45 records . condition is ok as I have no clue what iT is supposed to look like. It belonged to someone in family very long ago.
Thank You
Margie
murrieta,caif.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Do you know of anyone interested in BUYING old educational filmstrips – subject matter mostly English Literature and Writing (?)
Thank You
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I have found a set of 6 Chevrolet film strips that are titled Used Car Reconditioning Kit. They seem to be in good condition. Titles include reconditioning Fords, Plymouths and Chevrolets. They were produced on Kodak film and made by Jam Handy Picture Service Inc. Please let me know if there is someone who could use these. Thank you.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I have both educational filmstrips and several projectors (and probably bulbs, too) that I am looking for a home for. They are all in good condition, most date from the 1970s…
August 30th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I bought an entire community college filmstrip library for about $100 bucks a year or so ago.
My 2 1/2 year old boy has never been exposed to television but adores filmstrips, and I have enough to teach him until he is in his teens.
They move at a snails pace and REQUIRE you to listen and pay attention. Many kids his age sit and watch SpongeBob for hours on end and cannot tell you about anything they just watched, where as he was reciting all of T’was the Night Before Christmas at 18 months.
We had a playdate with four or five kids his age and showed “Snowy Day”, “Danny and the Dinosaur”, “Polar Express” and “Winnie the Pooh”, only one other child lasted more than 2 minutes through the 1st filmstrip, he too was not exposed to television, just lots of books.
There is something absolutely amazing about this medium and it’s a shame kids can’t tolerate a good story at 1 frame per 13 seconds.
He watches Winnie the Pooh now, but someday will be watching some other topics from economics to mechanics to Hitler.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I have many educational film strips from the 40’s or 50’s. I have about 50 different strips numerous topics. Mostly science. I also have a projector, well it’s just a screen that one or two people can sit front of and you have to manually advance the strip. Is there any demand for items like these? I would consider selling. I can give further info upon request.
Thanks
October 26th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Collect Children’s literature filmstrips mostly classic tales, fairy tales
I interested in buying what you might have.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Larry were you inquiring form me, Lynda, for filmstrips to buy?
November 29th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Hello
I have a number of film strips, approximately forty, all in there round /square boxes.
They are all educational. Obviously I do not know the condition of them.
Do you know if there will be an interest in these?
Thanks
November 29th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Can anyone tell me how much 2 filmstrips from World War 2 are worth? I have the negative and the positive. There are some photos of D-day and Patton. I can’t seem to find any info on them anywhere on the web.
Thanx.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:54 pm
KT, take care of those strips! Unreleased footage of WWII can be worth a very large sum. Try contacting someone from a nearby historical society to get you started!
February 18th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I work in a school library. School was built in the 1950s. Have several hundred filmstrips about to go to the trash. Anyone interested? Please email me with subject: filmstrip
March 10th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I may looking for Charlotte’s Web on filmstrip with the accompaning cassette tapes. Please e-mail me at tomdraus@gmail.com if you know how I can obtain these. Thank you, Tom
April 25th, 2009 at 11:19 am
To ROZ Messing
I will take all you have.
Please e-mail me thanks
April 25th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Sorry, Larry – they’ve been claimed!
http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2009/04/19/fifty-pounds-of-filmstrips/
April 28th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I am seeking to buy Charlotte’s Web on Filmstrip. Please contact me at tomdraus@yahoo.com
July 15th, 2009 at 1:33 am
I am still looking for Charlotte’s Web filmstrips. Would appreciate any help in obtaining them. Notice new e-mail address. Thank you, Tom Draus. tomdraus@yahoo.com
July 26th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Hello, I own a teachers box complete with filmstrips, 33 1/3 records, booklets & teachers questions for each of the Classic Fairy Tales inside (10 fairy tales i believe). The box is in great shape! Every piece that i checked out under light seemed unplayed to me (records). didn’t want to handle film much so i just peaked and they too seem new. I believe it was made between 1950-1968, not sure. I know it was done by Encyclopaedia Brittannica. Need to sell. Please, can someone point me in the direction of interest. Or, if interested , please feel free to drop me an email spiritlnkn@yahoo.com Thank You, Steph Stephenson
July 28th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Hello!
I’m Russian and have always had fond memories of childhood evenings spent watching diafilmy (film strips). I have some old fairy tales strips in Russian and am looking for film strips in English to share with my bilingual daughter.
I’m interested in the following categories:
– classic fairy tales
– tales from around the world
– educational strips, especially about explorers, geography, ancient history, animals, biology, and art, but will consider most subjects
If anybody has film strips to give away or sell, please contact me at kostoglo@colorado.edu
Thanks! Best, Elena
August 10th, 2009 at 12:26 am
I’m looking for a 1970s-era film on George Washington at Valley Forge. Any suggestions on where to look? Thanks!
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I have film strips, & casettes to give away. 6 Aesop Fables that have 3 fables on each, and and 6 Best Loved Fairy Tales from Europe.
I was still showing these to my students about 10 years ago but finally the district got rid of the last projector. Todays kids have no clue about Easops Fables and what a moral is. Some of the Europian Fairy Tales are not common titles… The Horned Goat ( Poland), Why the Sea is Salty (Norway)….The Colony of Cats (Italy)…..Dick Whittington and His Cat (England).
I would just like to know that they will be used not thrown into a landfill!
jmccarthy@hughes.net
October 18th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Hi,
we are wondering if you have access to any filmstrips and records (33’s)sets from the Family Filmstrips. Our church uses them at different times to help reinforce a story from the Bible, for the junior church class (ages 4- 12) They truely do enjoy watching and listening to them. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
January 10th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I have a question to how much my dukane flip top is worth? I haven’t gotten the model number but it was a chevrolet salemans case from 1936 and has a roll of film featuring the 1936 standard 6 from chevrolet. unfortunately the record wasn’t with it to narrate the film strip which was my guess and the case and everything is in great condition. so if I can get a value from someone that knows these id appreciate it. Thank you. Jake
January 10th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
It looks kinda like the second one up except the record player pops out the side when you pull a corner of the case and it does also have narration on the film
January 25th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
I just picked up a dukane just like the one in the picture. How do I find filmstrips and records for this thing?
January 25th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
also have an AUDISCAN SOUND FILMSTRIP CARTRIDGE PROJECTOR
January 26th, 2010 at 1:18 am
i HAVE SEVERAL EARLY 60′S FILM STRIPS AND RECORDS FROM CHEVOLET DEALER TRAINING KITS i AM INTERESTED IN BUYINNG A DUKANE FILM STRIP AND RECORD PLAYER , PLEASE EMAIL ME jOE@NOVAJOE.COM