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Two scenes showing an Edison Standard cylinder machine (with cygnet horn) but in both scenes, they wound the machine backward. I was waiting for the crank to come loose.

bobkolba wrote:Two scenes showing an Edison Standard cylinder machine (with cygnet horn) but in both scenes, they wound the machine backward. I was waiting for the crank to come loose.

Too funny. I noticed that as well. I kept waiting for it to come off in his hand.

I bet that it is simply a "time is money" situation.
After the second take, the machine is wound. What shall we do now?
Play a record or improvise?
It's still funny and shocking to see such flubs.

James.

As a union member working in the film industry. Most of these details are chosen. It was most likely not a mistake. Most props are rented. If they are in focus as this was it means it was specifically chosen. In this case. I bet specific instructions were given to wind it backwards. The props person would know about its operation and not want to risk overwinding it. Or in some cases the owners are on set and they specify the usage.

I am a tailor by trade and we do these things all the time with costuming. We count on the ignorance of the general public to pass non period, incorrect design and function choices. I am most certain they were counting on the majority of the public not to know any better. Its the lesser of two evils. Wind it backward to not risk any damage to the machine. Or be period correct and risk damaging it.

Rental houses charge crazy amounts for damage. In my field a lost or damaged shirt has an average of $400.00 replacement charge. Lost buttons are $4.00 per button. Im sure damaging the victrola would have cost them at least $500.00 to start.

Jayl65 wrote:As a union member working in the film industry. Most of these details are chosen. It was most likely not a mistake. Most props are rented. If they are in focus as this was it means it was specifically chosen. In this case. I bet specific instructions were given to wind it backwards. The props person would know about its operation and not want to risk overwinding it. Or in some cases the owners are on set and they specify the usage.

I am a tailor by trade and we do these things all the time with costuming. We count on the ignorance of the general public to pass non period, incorrect design and function choices. I am most certain they were counting on the majority of the public not to know any better. Its the lesser of two evils. Wind it backward to not risk any damage to the machine. Or be period correct and risk damaging it.

Rental houses charge crazy amounts for damage. In my field a lost or damaged shirt has an average of $400.00 replacement charge. Lost buttons are $4.00 per button. Im sure damaging the victrola would have cost them at least $500.00 to start.

Cool, welcome to the forum! It's always good to have people with insider info like this.

Now, I'm not trying to be a jerk (I don't need to try- that comes quite naturally to me) but is your use of the term "Victrola" here an example of counting on the ignorance of the general public not to know any better?

Just asking.

I wondered if anyone would catch that. I typed it in haste and decided not to correct it even though I knew i mistyped. This is exactly the same type of general incorrect information that is counted on to present an idea without including all of the details. Keep me honest!