Dear Laura, Maybe this auction will give you an idea about the inevitability of obsolescence, in this case, from a business perspective. A major film preservation company biting the dust after 40 years, and the equipment is up for grabs. The obsolescence question is really boiled down to maintenance (and those who are trained in its maintenance) and availability, and then stockpiling equipment in the face of new equipment not being manufactured and/or sold, and creating a warehouse of machinery you can cannibalize. Once all the needed parts for making repairs are gone, then yes, that machine will be obsolete. One at a time. Content and performance, availability, need and desire all be damned.
Elizabeth McMahon After 40 years, Film Technology Company, Inc. is closing its doors. All assets will be sold in an online auction. Known for their work in film restoration, preservation, evaluation as well as film to video transfers, video to video transfers, sound transfers and sound restoration, there is an extensive range of equipment available. There will be current, legacy and vintage equipment dating back to the early 1900’s, as well as one of a kind items. The online auction opens Friday, December 5, 2014 at 9am PST. [image: LinkedIn] <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=nmp&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly> Groups [image: AMIA] <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gmp&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=0&m=hero&ts=groupPost-mostPopular&gid=1889031> Popular discussions in:AMIA <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gmp&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=0&m=hero&ts=groupPost-mostPopular&gid=1889031> View all discussions <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gmp&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=1&m=hero&ts=groupPost-group&gid=1889031> Online Auction | Film and Video Equipment <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gde&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=2&m=group_discussions&ts=grouppost-disc-0&itemID=5946053219443552257&itemType=member&anetID=1889031> [image: Laura Rooney] <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=amf&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=3&m=group_discussions&ts=grouppost-memberactivity-0&gid=1889031&memberID=29718198> Laura Rooney <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gde&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=4&m=group_discussions&ts=grouppost-name-0&itemID=5946053219443552257&itemType=member&anetID=1889031>Association of Moving Image Archivists <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gde&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=5&m=group_discussions&ts=headline-0&itemID=5946053219443552257&itemType=member&anetID=1889031> After 40 years, Film Technology Company, Inc. is closing its doors. All assets will be sold in an... [image: Film Technology Company, Inc. Auction. Featuring equipment for Film, Video, Audio, Legacy Gear...] <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gde&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=6&m=hero&ts=grouppost-0&itemID=5946053219443552257&itemType=member&anetID=1889031> Film Technology Company, Inc. Auction. Featuring equipment for Film, Video, Audio, Legacy Gear... <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gde&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=6&m=hero&ts=grouppost-0&itemID=5946053219443552257&itemType=member&anetID=1889031>Film Technology Company, Inc. Auction. Featuring equipment for Film, Video, Audio, Legacy Gear, Vintage Collectibles & Props from Auction Excess. <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gde&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=6&m=hero&ts=grouppost-0&itemID=5946053219443552257&itemType=member&anetID=1889031> View Discussion <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=gde&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=2&m=group_discussions&ts=grouppost-disc-0&itemID=5946053219443552257&itemType=member&anetID=1889031> You are receiving Groups Digest emails. Unsubscribe <https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&t=lun&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&tracking=eml-b2_anet_digest_weekly-unsub_html&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&loid=AQHmSR72rbusKwAAAUoVaLOREwxUZwBa3klH0zVA6hFFH6OJIFS2E382iF0R0X43ZsXT_0BIjqimvm0Hjw&eid=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p>This email was intended for Elizabeth McMahon (Research Consultancy at Self-Employed). Learn why we included this. <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&a=customerServiceUrl&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&articleId=4788>If you need assistance or have questions, please contact LinkedIn Customer Service <http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=oqa55-i3a4u8w1-p&a=customerServiceUrl&midToken=AQEqmMe6hbGzrw&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly> . © 2014, LinkedIn Corporation. 2029 Stierlin Ct. Mountain View, CA 94043, USA -- Elizabeth
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
