Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: An abandoned place in Western MA. called Filmtech

This is topic An abandoned place in Western MA. called Filmtech in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Matthew Bailey (Member # 601) on 03-11-2004, 08:26 PM:

I just happened to comeupon this abandoned building site in Western Massachusetts called filmtech-not to be confused with this webpage.Apparently from looking at the photos it's a film processing facility. http://edun.org/index.php?album=%2Ffilmtech&

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-11-2004, 09:37 PM:

Indeed. We here at Film-Tech sued them back in the eighties and they were forced to close and evacuate. Thousands of people lost their jobs, but that's the way we like it. That'll sure teach 'em.

The film was left on the shelves for decades to warn others who might be considering the same name and the fate they would meet if they did. Obviously the photographer who got all of the pics didn't find the dozen or so rotting corpses we also left as a warning.[av=c]

Posted by Emma Tomiak (Member # 1862) on 03-11-2004, 10:34 PM:

Hey, check out some of the other photos on this guy's site. In the Norwhich State Hospital section, there are some photos of the old theatres, and the projectors are still there...Super Simplex, if I can make it out correctly. Norwhich State Hospital Theatres

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-11-2004, 10:49 PM:

Super Simplexes indeed! They are in way better shape than the ones at Madstone tamarac 6.[av=m]

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 03-12-2004, 01:37 AM:

The pictures of the abandoned asylum scare me in a "Shining" sort of way. I mean -- the photos are intriguing in the way photos of an abandoned theatre intrigue me... but with one difference:

Old theatre = happy fun times!
Old asylum = scary freaky bad juju!!!

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-12-2004, 10:17 AM:

Yeah, Supers, Brenkert Enarcs, SH-1000's, and XL penthouses. Not terrible for its day.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 03-12-2004, 11:00 AM:

I assume they're ready for the next showing of "The Snake Pit", or perhaps "Three Faces of Eve"?

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 03-12-2004, 12:42 PM:

I want to go into that Film-Tech place and look at some of that film. Maybe it's secret government stuff... or better yet, porn.

Could the "stench" the photographer was talking about be Vinegar Syndrome? Or worse, nitrate fumes? I would hate to light a match in that building with all those unmarked chemicals everywhere...

Strange how film was still loaded into the developers or sitting on a rewind bench. Makes it look like whoever left had to leave in a hurry. Is there evidence of a fire in the building?

There's an abandoned mental hospital somewhere around Orlando. I talked to this "goth" friend of mine who said they went as far as the first floor and were way too creeped out. Afraid they were going to open a door to one of the rooms and find bodies. [eyes]

=TMP=

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-12-2004, 01:39 PM:

It all looks like 16mm film. So likely triacetate or ESTAR base. Suspect most of the smell was just the mustyness from all the water and moisture over the years.

They seem to have left in a hurry. Surprised a bankruptcy court didn't step in and disperse the assets to the creditors, and the films in storage back to their owners. Now vandals and nature seem to have trashed the place beyond recovery.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 03-12-2004, 02:55 PM:

It's the film itself I'm worried about. Given that this place is a lab the remaining film there must consist largely of original elements, I'd have thought. I hope a nearby archive might be able to look the place over and determine what is worth rescuing.

Posted by Peter Eaves (Member # 451) on 03-12-2004, 05:53 PM:

This lab was in, or near to, Westfield, Mass. It was a 16mm lab that developed and printed reversal and negative/positive mostly for independent and industrial filmmakers. I believe that they also did Super 8mm developing. They were still a viable business into the '80's. I have no idea when they closed or why they left the lab in this shape. Such a shame that all that film is sitting there.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-12-2004, 09:21 PM:

It really breaks my heart when I see something like that. All the abuse and abandonment of those films and equipment. [Confused]

How sad.

>>> Phil

Posted by Zach McQuaid (Member # 613) on 04-18-2004, 02:28 AM:

Well who actually owns the property? Someone (or someTHING) is paying on that land, and I doubt it's the city. This should be fun! Can I have it? pretty please?

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 04-18-2004, 06:48 AM:

There was a thread on the AMIA listserve about this too: if I remember correctly, the place was eventually repossessed by the State authorities because of unpaid taxes.

Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 04-18-2004, 07:27 PM:

It looks like most of that film is trashed, judging by all the rust on the cans. [Frown]

Too bad nobody came to save all that stuff, but I'm sure this isn't the first time a large amount of film has been left like that. [Frown]