1929 Home Construction (home movie)

[rue]

A family's home movie of their house being built in 1929


[video=youtube_share;eP6Nn-GZS0c]http://youtu.be/eP6Nn-GZS0c[/video]

more info:
This is 16mm home movie from 1929 of the construction of a large estate home. 16MM film was introduced in the 1920's as a home movie medium. Since 35mm film was printed on nitrate filmstock that could easily combust, a smaller gague (16MM) was created that was printed on saftey stock made of acetate that was safe for home use. The cost of a 16MM camera at this time cost more than a car. Thus this is a common example of a 16MM upper class home movie project.

 

[C-dot]

What a fantastic find! Only you could scout out something like this, Rue

 

[rue]

Awwww... thanks Tis nothing....

Actually, I was trying to find out more about our new house and this video popped up

Isn't it fascinating how they went about it? I love how the family is all excited

 

[C-dot]

Me too! I liked the way the girls in the beginning were digging up the ground in their furs and cloches

 

[Gregg Axley]

Those were their work furs.

 

[rue]

Me too! I liked the way the girls in the beginning were digging up the ground in their furs and cloches

I know... so cute

Those were their work furs.

lol

 

[Marla]

Thanks for posting. I watched it all the way through. It's always nice to see "real life" footage rather than the (scripted) films we are used to seeing.

 

[LizzieMaine]

He needs to work on his penmanship. Very sloppy.

 

[Tomasso]

He needs to work on his penmanship. Very sloppy.

Yes, very disappointing.

 

[rue]

Thanks for posting. I watched it all the way through. It's always nice to see "real life" footage rather than the (scripted) films we are used to seeing.

You're welcome and I agree

He needs to work on his penmanship. Very sloppy.

Yes, very disappointing.

lol

 

[Connery]

Great footage thanks Rue, but, not without drama. When those fellows were pruning the tree I thought, one slip and they are strung up.

 

[Stearmen]

What Happened

Great video, like when the framers put the small tree on top of the roof, timber framers still do that to this day! I just wounder where the house was, does it still exist, and did this family survive the great depression with their money still in tact?

 

[rue]

Great footage thanks Rue, but, not without drama. When those fellows were pruning the tree I thought, one slip and they are strung up.

That was scary stuff, wasn't it? :eeek:

Great video, like when the framers put the small tree on top of the roof, timber framers still do that to this day! I just wounder where the house was, does it still exist, and did this family survive the great depression with their money still in tact?

I didn't understand that part. Is it common to put a tree on the roof and why do they do it?

 

[scotrace]

Amazing!

Shoveler #2 throws like a girl.

It's called "Topping off."

in 'Diary of an Early American Boy', Sloane writes: ..."Another ancient custom is seen in Izaak's "putting a brush on top" of the new structure. Even nowadays you will you will see workmen put a small tree or bush on the top of a new roof when it has been completed. That ceremony calls for a round of drinks for the builders, and although we don't seem to know why we do it, we say it is "just to give the house luck." That tree tacked atop a new building goes all the way back to Druid lore when men worshipped trees!"...

 

[rue]

Throws like a girl.... lol

Thanks for the information on the "Topping off" Scott. Interesting......

 

[Stearmen]

I didn't understand that part. Is it common to put a tree on the roof and why do they do it?

Basically to pay homage to where the lumber came from!

 

[rue]

Basically to pay homage to where the lumber came from!

Thank you ....... it's a neat tradition I think