I have....
....my father's slide projector and screen.

The bulb has gone, and would cost too much to replace, and the screen is a silvery-grey. But I can't part with it.

In his collection of slides, he has some of the Apollo landings, as well as York Minister well before the fire of 1984. As well as numerous family holidays, and people and events long gone.

My wife had most of the images transferred to photos from slide to paper for me, and although they are very good, they are not the same as having the image projected on the screen.

So why do I keep them? It reminds me of a time circa 1970 to 1973 when this was an amazing form of entertainment. especially when one slide was inserted the wrong way, and we all laughed at "grandad upside down".

TV for me was just black and white - but this was full colour entertainment. The smell of the projector heat is something I can sense right now, and I can picture the cigarette smoke from my mother wafting through the ray of light as we sat around for the "show" to start.

Just looking at the hardware, and not even the images, it makes me tearful for nothing else but my youth long gone..............
( Piper Alpha is being a grumpy northerm bastard on:, Thu 8 May 2008, 16:02, 1 reply)

I like this!
*Click* from me for an painting an evocative picture.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Thu 8 May 2008, 16:06, closed)