Hi everyone, as promised I’ve been working on filming and producing the Wizard Citation DVD. I have found filming washers with black agitators to be much more of a challenge than when I filmed machines with lighter colored gray or turquoise agitators. The problem is in the lighting, what happens is if I make the lighting a bit darker, you cannot make out the details of the agitator as well as when I use bright lights. When I use bright lights when the wash water gets a little sudsy, it reflects light off of the sudsy water and makes the contrast look way too bright on the suds, but you get a nice view of the black agitator. So I decided its better to use bright lights and try to adjust to brightness and contrast in the Video editing program on the computer. I’ve got it pretty good although a little more experimenting is in order to see if I can get it even better. I used semi-low sudsing detergent (Fresh-Start) for the wash loads as not to completely block the view of the turnover during the wash cycle.

The first DVD is going to consist of two complete Wizard wash loads, one filmed from the top looking directly down into the washtub, the other filmed from a 45 degree angle looking into the wash tub. I noticed you get two completely different perspective views by using two different camera angles. Filming it from the 45 degree angle you can really see how much that wash tub indexes during agitation. In the first episode looking down into the washtub I included over 15 quick shots of the timer dial incrementing so you can see exactly where the washer is in the cycle. Sort of like what you do if you were standing there actually watching the machine.

Anyway, I hope to get this done this week and get the DVD’s over to the duplicator. The DVD format is going to be DVD-R which should play on 90% or more of DVD players made after 2000. All DVD players made today (even the cheap $39 DVD players are Target) play DVD-R format so anyone who wants a DVD should be able to view it. The format is going to be in the North American NTSC so those of you in Europe and Australia, you might need to get a NTSC player or have it converted locally if you wish to view this DVD. I’m not sure about the availability of NTSC DVD players overseas.

As an extra bonus, I’m going to include a newly found, wonderful Westinghouse Laundromat commercial that I have not put up on the site yet.

Yay!! Cannot wait to see it! Well buy it first then see it!! Please let us know asap, as I am sure you will, the price for the DVD. Now if we could get some dishwasher action from a certain Frigidaire or Kitchen Aid that would be even better.All good time of course we know you are a very busy man ... ;-) . Well anyways can't wait to see it.

Christopher

Robert, I am so excited about the DVD. Let me know the price and I will send you the moolah. I can't wait to see it! Have you already decided which machine will be featured in the second DVD or can we cast a ballot?

Les

Robert should make a set of DVDs with his most exotic washers. Philco Automagic, ABC O Matic, early GE, Wizard, Apex Bouncing Basket (if he should find one that is).

Since you had problems adjusting the lighting for the Wizard dvd I'm wondering how one of your machines that has a tub light will look such as the 57 Lady. Perhaps it could be next on the programming schedule. Or maybe the 49 ABC since it has a beige agitator. Or better still the 51 GE since it has both.

Les

Yay!!This is great news Robert, I will be looking forward to the details on ordering!! Terry

I can't wait to see that thing splashing and thrashing.

Yes Robert,
Please let me know the details in ordering
Thanks much
Peter

Hi Robert,

Great news, I look forward to ordering a copy when its complete.

Most DVD players in AU will play PAL, NTSC US and NTSC JP, so it shouldnt be a problem.

Thanks for your efforts

Nathan

Cant wait to see the WIZARD !! YAY !!!!!
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Hi everyone, well I’m thrilled to see some members are excited about getting this first DVD. After putting some thought into all this, I’ve decided to sell the DVD’s for $19.95 (US dollars) a piece, plus $3.00 for packaging and postage in the USA and $5 to go outside of the USA. I’m going to use the proceeds from this DVD to help offset some of the costs of maintaining the web site. If enough people are interested in getting a DVD, I will certainly make more of other machines in the coming months.

If anyone is interested in ordering a DVD, please send me an email ASAP at WIZARD@automaticwasher.org and just let me know your member name (if you are a member) and the fact that you would like to order one, this offer is good for members and non-members alike. That way I can get somewhat of an idea of how many to have duplicated. Thanks everyone. When I'm ready I let everyone know where to send their check or money order to.

Here are screen shots of the three shows on the DVD:

Hi Robert, let me be the first to sign up for the DVD! I know, you've probably gotten at least 100 people to sign up already. I think you are going to be very successful in this new venture!

When filming in the 45 degree or top-down levels, do you do any close-ups? Pan in and pan out? Also, how is the sound quality? How long are the cycles in this washer?

Anyway, please sign me up. If you provide a Paypal email address, I will send the money quickly.

Thanks so much for your devotion to vintage appliances.

Regards, laundramatt

Hi laundramatt, the sound quality is good, it does sound like the Wizard, all the grunts and groans, expecially as it starts to spin and that LOUD fill, boy is this machine ever a pig. The cycles are about 40 minutes a piece. To film I mounted the camera on a tripod and got it as far away from that machine as possible in order to prevent the lens from getting splashed. So the whole cycle is filmed "panned-in". I don't think I'm going to do the paypal thing this time.

Robert count me in, and a westinghouse laundromat video too. I just yelped about that picture of the day for 2 paragraphs thanks alr2903

Yay! I want one!

and me

I'm in, what's your paypal address?

count me in as well Robert, just let me know where and when to send a check. Terry

I've just returned from the video duplicator with copies of Wizard the Pig washing DVD's! For those who are interested, more info to come later on tonight.

Can a DVD file be loaded as a screen saver?

The videos are so cool!


I worked as a videographer for several years, and your problems in videotaping the black agitators comes down to a question of contrast. There are a couple of things you can do to try to help with this.

First, use very flat, diffused lighting. Bouncing a bright light off of a large piece of Foam-Core down towards the opening would work well for this.

If your camera's lens can accept accessories, it is possible that a polarization filter will help some (this will certainly help minimize glare on still water, probably not so much for the suds)

If you can get to some real video controls in your editing software, look for something named "black level" or "Black Level Setup" or something along those lines, and turn that up a bit. This will bring the black out of the shadows a little bit. Then, you'll need to turn down the "Luminance" or "Video Level" controls to bring the whites back down out of the stratosphere. If the controls are more basic, try turning the "contrast" level down and compensating by turning the "Brightness" level up.

Great news, Robert! As soon as we get the green light I'll immediately send you a check!

Les

I would LOVE to have one! Put me on the list!

Yes-I would be interested:When will the DVD be available and where do I send my check?

Count me in!

I can't wait! :-)

As usual, thanks for all you do Robert.

Mike