Lost Silent Oswalds surface

[rex racer]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:BCA:US:11&Item=9109146995


Had to rub my eyes when I first scoped this yesterday! Slammed a bid in ASAP, bu the Auction was withdrawn today:(

Two of the four 16mm film reels were of Oswald silent era Disney titles

Of the 8 films listed four were previously on the "Lost" list

"Proud Papa" most likely Poor Papa, the first Oswald cartoon Disney completed, but it's release was delayed because Universal wasn't enamoured with it This is probably the "Holy Grail" of Oswaldian collectors....

Africa After Dark

The 'Ol Swimmin Hole

Tall Timber


Wonder if there's a behind the scenes story brewing here? Methinks so! :rabbit:


Can't believe how much Oswald stuff is happennin!

[Pietro]

Wow! This IS quite a find! :eek:

At first, I didn't believe that this seller was actually telling the truth, but he seems to have had no negative feedback, so...:rabbit:

-Pietro:daffy:

[Brundledan]

Great Scott.

Between Disney's acquisition of the character, the sale of that stencil set, and now this, I'm starting to expect the Second Coming any day now.

-Dan

[Studio Toledo]

Wow! This IS quite a find! :eek:

At first, I didn't believe that this seller was actually telling the truth, but he seems to have had no negative feedback, so...:rabbit:

-Pietro:daffy:
Too bad I can't report him! Seems kinda dumb to list something than take it off that easily. Did he just had been informed about it all of a sudden?

[Geezil]

Too bad I can't report him! Seems kinda dumb to list something than take it off that easily. Did he just had been informed about it all of a sudden?

Or maybe he got a cease-and-desist request from Anaheim... :confused:

[rex racer]

Too bad I can't report him! Seems kinda dumb to list something than take it off that easily. Did he just had been informed about it all of a sudden?

I dunno. Seems if I were in their shoes, and someone told me that I'd found something very valuable, then I'd be considering all options, not just an auction on E-bay.

Going into speculation mode,they could have been sold to a private collector in an outside deal, who threw mega bucks at them!:cool:

Or if they learned that the :mickey: folks at Anaheim wanted them, then perhaps they've decided to investigate that avenue.

Then again, it's always possible they'll show up on an auctionblock again, but with greater promotion, trying to get the big prize! (mega $$$$)

Let's just hope we get to see them sometime!:rabbit:

[rbl100]

Can't wait until 'Droopy's Good Deed' with the infamous fat black lady part surfaces!!!:cool:

[Tom Stathes]

One thing is for sure, if Disney is approached with them (providing they physically do exist) it will certainly be unfair for the Felix reel to lose its way in the Disney Archives [if it remains a part of the whole lot]
Remember, this could still be a scam!
-Tom

[Tom Stathes]

Wow! This IS quite a find! :eek:

At first, I didn't believe that this seller was actually telling the truth, but he seems to have had no negative feedback, so...:rabbit:

-Pietro:daffy:
Actually, has has two negative feedbacks along with some neutrals. Apparently his items aren't always described well or delivered.
I would normally trust someone in this situation but the whole premise of 6 lost cartoons being in one auction and on a format that many of the titles were not known to be on, it's most likely a scam to see how high bidders would jump.
Hopefully we'll find out soon what the deal is- if anyone at all ends up with them.
-Tom

[Sogturtle]

Actually, has has two negative feedbacks along with some neutrals. Apparently his items aren't always described well or delivered.
I would normally trust someone in this situation but the whole premise of 6 lost cartoons being in one auction and on a format that many of the titles were not known to be on, it's most likely a scam to see how high bidders would jump.
Hopefully we'll find out soon what the deal is- if anyone at all ends up with them.
-Tom

Tom and all~

My curiosity got the best of me:D concerning the seller's (northwest_d) feedback record, so below out of his 299 (out of 347) feedbacks are the sum total of the neutrals (3), and negative (1) feedback and his responses to the people... It should be mentioned that these were accrued over 3 and half years (since Oct. 2002)...

[neutral] I guess as described, broken truck, plastic wheels, first disappointing ebay exp
Buyer eric_m_nelson[] ( 266) Dec-15-03 13:50 3161450323
Reply by northwest_d: I truly wish that if you WERE DISSAPOINTED YOU WOULD CONTACT ME FIRST Dec-15-03 19:38

[neutral] Unable or unwilling to provide usable 2-rail wheelsets. Stopped communicating.
Buyer 318mti[] ( 313) Dec-01-04 19:22 5927173494 [**I searched through this customer's file and found that he himself has a current very negative comment against him by a buyer and nasty response on his own part.**]
Reply by northwest_d: I sent 5 different wheel sets at my expens and is claiming none of them work. Dec-06-04 00:49

[negative] Item never delivered, did not answer repeated attempts to contact.
Buyer clavekid[] ( 521) Nov-30-04 17:50 5130498656
Reply by northwest_d: The Item was sent to a FOREIGN ADDRESS VIA PARCEL POST DUE TO WEIGHT

[neutral] not what i expected for 29.00
Buyer earlybirdcat[] ( 38) Feb-11-06 02:45 6034409082
Reply by northwest_d: Item WAS marked USED and MAY HAVE SCRATCHES AND DINGS what were they expecting? [**This one is still current and he DID indeed have its probable deficencies marked in the ad**]

The seller of the films very clearly DID state that these films had come out of an ESTATE sale, and estate sales are always the most likely place(s) to find the rare and unusual of ANYTHING. As such I personally reject the idea that it was a scam... If he was trying a scam then he wouldn't have packaged them up with a bunch of common Mickeys and things.

Most important of all, ifffff he was trying to ascertain the worth of them then instead of startin' them out at a piddling $9.99 he would have thrown a high reserve price in there to see how high they'd go... And keep in mind, that despite Ebay's desires, sometimes sellers DO indeed accept informal offers and end auctions early (provided no bid has come in yet). That phrase displayed at the top "The seller ended this listing early because the item is no longer available for sale" almost always indicates that a secret sale has occurred.......................................... .................
Thus I do strongly believe that they are now headed into the hands of someone who truly knows what the mega-rare Oswalds are and how rare they are (and nooooo it's not me:bosko: .

[wundermild]

Besides the Oswalds, there were also two "lost" cartoons on the "Felix" reel, among them Musical Mews, the second Felix the Cat ever, from 1919.
(Will there ever be a Felix craze?)

[David Gerstein]

Felix doesn't need a craze to revive him, because he has never totally gone. (-:
Oswald by contrast has needed fan support to bring him back, as the cartoons from all eras have been totally out of distribution.
Re: the rareness of the Felix films in the lot— yes! If someone did buy this group of films secretly, I hope to tender mercy that he/she realizes that the Felixes need to be preserved as well.

[Pietro]

Re: the rareness of the Felix films in the lot— yes! If someone did buy this group of films secretly, I hope to tender mercy that he/she realizes that the Felixes need to be preserved as well.Hopefully the private buyer was somebody who works for Disney...:rabbit:

-Pietro:daffy:

[David Gerstein]

Amen to that, pal... :felix: ...er, I mean :mickey: ...that is, :rabbit:!
(Sorry, I'm sleepy this morning!)

[Ray Pointer]

Besides the Oswalds, there were also two "lost" cartoons on the "Felix" reel, among them Musical Mews, the second Felix the Cat ever, from 1919.
(Will there ever be a Felix craze?)

I wasn't aware that MUSICAL MEWS was considered lost. It used to be available in the 16mm collecting circles 30 years ago. But it goes to show you how time flies.:felix:

[wundermild]

I wasn't aware that MUSICAL MEWS was considered lost. It used to be available in the 16mm collecting circles 30 years ago. But it goes to show you how time flies.:felix:
So probably "lost" isn't the correct technical term for films (or anything else for that matter) that are currently unavailable - Musical Mews is just missing for the time being. Interesting information, Ray. (Do I have to emphasize now that I am not an avid 16mm collector?)
Oh, and the information on Musical Mews's availability status is derived from David Gerstein's thoroughly researched Felix the Cat page (http://felix.goldenagecartoons.com/). (The "lost" assumption was done by me, though.)

[David Gerstein]

I wasn't aware that MUSICAL MEWS was considered lost. It used to be available in the 16mm collecting circles 30 years ago.Thanks for the heads-up, Ray. At this point in time, no researcher I've ever spoken with has seen it. Learning that it circulated in the 1970s makes its rediscovery less of a surprise. I'll note this next time I update our Felix pages.

[Tom Stathes]

Hopefully the private buyer was somebody who works for Disney...:rabbit:

-Pietro:daffy:
Damn adware! 3rd time I'm trying to reply to this...
That would be good for the Oswalds, but not the Felix reel.
Films like these should mostly go to private collectors who are willing to work with the entities which can recirculate them (unless the collector can't do it himself!! (cough cough;) ) If that isn't the case, then I would rather see these go to AFI or the LOC.
-Tom

[Nelson]

So is it safe to say that these Oswald titles are one hundred percent ligit?If so, I pray that the these films goes into the right hands.I would love to see some images of these Disney/Oswald titles, that those films are for real and no one gets suckered.:rabbit:

[Tom Stathes]

So is it safe to say that these Oswald titles are one hundred percent ligit?If so, I pray that the these films goes into the right hands.I would love to see some images of these Disney/Oswald titles, that those films are for real and no one gets suckered.:rabbit:
Nelson,
I personally am not getting my hopes up unless
A. the films go back on eBay
B. They appear on DVD somewhere
-Tom

[rex racer]

So is it safe to say that these Oswald titles are one hundred percent ligit?

No, not yet. But rest assured efforts are being made to determine the truth.:cool:

[Mac]

No, not yet. But rest assured efforts are being made to determine the truth.:cool:

So I assume that some people here have contacted the person who put these items up to find out more about what's happenned to these prints. It would be good if a bunch of lost cartoons have indeed surfaced and fantastic if they fall into the right hands. I'm looking forward to finding out more...

[Tom Stathes]

So I assume that some people here have contacted the person who put these items up to find out more about what's happenned to these prints. It would be good if a bunch of lost cartoons have indeed surfaced and fantastic if they fall into the right hands. I'm looking forward to finding out more...
Yes, several of us have [tried] contacted the seller since a few hours into the auction. Rex is the only one I know of who has been in true contact with him though. You're right, it's all about who the films go to!
-Tom:o