5th January 2009
May we wish all our valued customers and fellow enthusiasts a happy and prosperous New Year. If the pundits are to be believed, then we are in for a shaky few months at best, and total melt-down at worst. Whilst we are greatly saddened by the sight of yuppie bankers having to send back their Porsches, for the majority of people it will be business as usual. Except for those who have suffered redundancy, something that can only be really understood by those who have experienced it, the rest of us should enjoy keener competition in the market place, and bargains at the checkouts. Just don't try and sell your house!. For our part, there will definitely be no increase in our prices during 2009, and, provided the postal increases are not too horrendous, we will absorb the additional costs.
Our trading year for 2008 was highly successful, with sales 136% up on the previous year. This was largely due to a regular flow of new programmes, increased presence at rallies and Transport Fairs, and an increasing awareness among enthusiasts of the excellent value for money of our productions. There will be more of the same in 2009.
"Looking Back at Buses No.3 - Oxford" was released at the King Alfred Running Day on 1st January, and Volumes 4 and 5 covering Bristol and Sheffield will follow later this month.
The weather is continuing to thwart our filming schedule. Your worthy videographer is barred on medical advise from hanging around on street corners in sub-zero temperatures. As soon as the mercury gets above 10 celsius, normal service will resume. "Todays Buses No.17 - Leicestershire & Rutland" will be re-started, the footage already taken being abandoned in view of the time lapse. Consequently, it will now be in 16:9 format on our new super camera. Release when the weather improves - no promises unfortunately.
Finally, we are always interested in video footage, of any age, and any popular format (VHS, VHS-C or DV). We pay a (very) modest fee for using your material, in which you retain copyright. We have full editing facilities, so can remove those "glitches" that creep into every production. Contact us by e-mail initially.
10th December 2008
Owing to a bout of pneumonia, and consequent hospitalisation, filming has been suspended for a while on doctors orders. Street corners in December do not mix very well with chronic chest infections.
Hopefully, Todays Buses No.17 will appear later in December, if the weather stays dry and turns milder.
From Todays Buses No.18 - Essex, due in January (hopefully), we will be switching to the use of a new camera. This is a high definition model, capable of full resolution capture, although we will not initially offer HD or Blu-ray discs. However, the improved picture quality will give a much better picture than our existing system can offer. These releases will also be in widescreen 16:9 format, to take advantage of modern picture technology.
A start has been made on the transfer of our large library of VHS tapes onto DVD. We waited until the equipment was available to carry out recording and retrieval in .avi format, to ensure no loss of picture quality. This is now possible, and as a result, two "compilation" programmes have been produced. Both are North West based, and were released at the recent "Christmas Cracker" event organised by the Manchester Museum of Road Transport, a terrific event that is highly recommended.
"Looking Back at Buses Vol.1 - Manchester City Centre" contains over an hour of film taken in Piccadilly Gardens on various dates between 1988 and 2001. It should be noted that most of the footage has been used in previous productions issued by us, but for those people whose interest centres on the Manchester scene, this production gives comprehensive coverage in a convenient way.
"Looking Back at Buses Vol.2 - Greater Manchester and South Lancashire" is a similar production, covering the many significant operating centres in the area of the title. Both discs are priced at £10.00 each, and further details are in the catalogue section of this site.
Further programmes will follow quite soon for other major conurbations.
Our next confirmed rally appearance is at the Friends of King Alfred running day in Winchester on New Years Day. Always a most enjoyable event, with a rich variety of vehicles to savour and sample, the stalls are located in the Council Offices this year, and we are led to believe that this new venue involves some stair-climbing.
Our prices have stayed fixed at £10.00 for all of our productions since we launched at Cobham in April 2006. In spite of continuous upward pressure on costs, a rapidly rising level of sales means that we will be able to hold our price for some months yet. It is not envisaged that there will be any increase for the forseeable future for archive material, but the situation for the Todays Buses series will need to be kept under review, in the light of fuel costs, as a lot of travelling is involved in the filming of these programmes, which typically take three days. As an example, TB16 Hampshire involved driving 866 miles!
Just in case you haven't heard elsewhere, the North Weald Rally is confirmed as being held once again at the Essex airfield on Sunday 5th July. We will be there!
Finally, this has been a very good year for us, with sales more than double those of 2007. We have attended more rallies this year, and have met many of our customers face to face. Some have become friends, which is a lovely way to do business. As we have said before, DVD-R is not an exact science by any means, and we have had problems in the past with expensive equipment not performing as it should, with consequent disappointment to customers and ourselves. Our quality control is now very good, and "returns" are at a satisfyingly low level. We constantly monitor our output, and upgrade equipment when appropriate. As always, any problem with a disc, send it straight back.
Christmas is nearly upon us. The emphasis in our hobby switches from outside to indoors for a few months.........a perfect time to switch on the DVD player and watch the world of buses glide through your living room. Have a good Christmas, look forward to a prosperous New Year, and may you enjoy this hobby next year as much as we have done for the last 57 years!
6th November 2008
A significant new release today. "After the Act Vol.31" is, for the moment at least, the final programme in the series. Featuring extended looks at Liverpool and Bristol, there is also a look at several locations in the Hertfordshire area. Full details in the catalogue section.
Filming for "Todays Buses - Leicestershire and Rutland" is progressing well, and a release date of about 15th November is hoped for. This will be followed by Essex, a very large county which will require three or four days filming and much travelling. Hopefully, this will be released by the end of the month.
Several customers have raised the question of apparent faults with the aspect ratio of some programmes. This can make objects look taller and thinner than normal, or shorter and fatter than normal. It is all down to the modern love affair with changing specifications at frequent intervals to kid the public into thinking that they are buying the latest trend.
Our early footage was shot in good old 1:1 ratio. That is, the height and width were directly linked to the actual. If an object was twice as high as it was wide, then that is what was recorded, and that is what you saw on your screen. Suddenly "wide screen" was the bees knees, and a ratio of 4:3 was introduced. The screen would now be one third wider than the height. Fine if you were filming the original material in that ratio, but if you weren't, or you were using old stock, there was a problem. Using old stock with the new ratio meant that something 14'-6" high and 8'-0" wide, typical for a bus, now appeared to be 14'-6" high and 10'-7" wide.
Recently, we have seen the introduction of 16:9. We will be changing to this format, with it's obvious advantages ourselves very soon, but re-mastering existing stock is not a practical proposition.
So, what is the fix. Fortuntely, for most people it will be fairly simple. On most modern TV's, there is a facility to alter the aspect ratio of the display. This is often by means of a button on the remote, marked 4:3 or 16:9. Pressing this repeatedly will scroll through the various options available. Usually "normal" or something similar will give the right aspect ratio achieved by blanking off the exteme left and right edges of the screen. You might have access to an alternative of using the full screen, but losing part of the picture. Getting this feature correctly set-up will considerably enhance your visual enjoyment of the programme.
25th October 2008
Released today - "Todays Buses No.16 Hampshire", without a doubt our best yet. Such an amazing variety of operators and liveries, in a County with a number of very important population centres. Weather varied over our three days of filming from steady drizzle to strong but low sunshine, but overall, the results were most satisfactory. Full details on our catalogue page.
We can confirm that our sales stand will be at Cobham on 26th October, Lincoln on 2nd November, and the LOTS Spectacular at Harrow on 22nd November.
10th October 2008
Todays Buses No.15 ....London - Central has now been completed, and is in stock for immediate delivery. Although dominated by red double deckers, there is a surprising variety on the streets of the Capital, and covering seven different locations in the Central area has provided a balance with coaches, sight-seeing and heritage services all captured. As usual, a full hour of non-stop action, no commentary and carefully edited to remove all non-core activity.
We will be at Canvey Island open day on Sunday, where our full range of over 60 DVD's will be available to purchase, supported by a continuous demonstration of our latest titles.
2nd October 2008
After the Act Vol.30 is now complete, in stock, and despatched to customers who pre-ordered. Details in the Catalogue section,
There is only enough material for about four more programmes in my personal collection, and this will all be released before Christmas.
Also due for release in the near future is a one-hour special on Malta, filmed in April 1995, when buses were green and white, and the whole island was a working museum. For those of you that didn't get out there before the low-floor invasion this programme will enable you to drool over what you have missed!
27th September 2008
Amazing what a bit of decent weather can do. Having taken advantage of our Indian Summer to get out with the camera, the finishing touches have been put to Todays Buses No.14 - East Sussex. With the retrenchment of Stagecoach in much of the area, there are several interesting independents, including a Southdown look-alike. Advance orders have already been posted out, and a plentiful supply will be available at Showbus.
23rd September 2008
Today saw completion of "Todays Buses No.13 - Suffolk", and the title despatched to those who had placed advance orders. Covering nine locations in this large and mainly rural county, most filming was done in very difficult lighting conditions. Full details in the catalogue section.
Weather permitting, the final three locations for "Todays Buses No.14 - East Sussex" will be filmed this week, with despatch on Saturday.
We will have our stall at Showbus on Sunday 28th, and all of our titles will be available over the counter. Just a reminder that we accept cheques (with guarantee card) and Credit / Debit cards at outside events.
9th September 2008
Please note that we now have a new e-mail address. robin_clare@sky.com
Somewhat easier to remember than the previous mouthfull.
Filming is proceeding apace with the Suffolk programme, despite the unpredictable weather, and release is planned for about 18th September. This should be followed a week or so later by No.14, East Sussex, which, in answer to several enquiries WILL include Brighton & Hove.
Hoping to attend the Meadowhall rally on 14th September, and of course, Showbus on 28th September.
2nd September 2008
In spite of the atrocious Summer that we have experienced, efforts continue to get out filming whenever circumstances allow. "Todays Buses No.12 - Surrey" is now available from stock, as is our latest archive programme, "After the Act Vol.29". Details are shown on the catalogue page.
Filming the Suffolk programme has started, but distances from Milton Keynes are such that we require a reasonable surety of decent weather before starting out at six in the morning!
We will be attending "Bus & Coach Wales" at Merthyr on 7th Septmber.
2nd August 2008
"Todays Buses No.11 - Warwickshire" is now available from stock, as is "After the Act" Vol.28. See Catalogue page for details of contents.
The weather continues to be unsettled, causing disruption to our filming programme, but it is hoped to start work on TB12 - Surrey next week. This will be followed by TB13 - Suffolk and TB14 - East Sussex.
We can accept advance orders for any of these titles, but an actual release date cannot be guaranteed. Don't forget our Credit Card Hot Line 01908 233104.
Many of our regular customers have visited our stall, which attends various rallies in the Midlands and South. It is hoped to publish a list of those rallies that we are attending for the rest of this season.
18th July 2008
"Todays Buses" No.10 - Wiltshire is now complete, and has been posted out to the many people who had placed advanced orders. Although much of the filming was done in less than perfect weather, the end result is a very comprehensive record of current operations in this lovely County.
Filming for No.11 - Warwickshire will start next week, with Surrey and Suffolk to follow.
9th July 2008
"Gloucestershire" was launched at the Stroud Running day, and our first stock batch sold out in a few hours. "Hertfordshire" followed a few days later, and our stocks ran out half way through the day at the North Weald Rally on 6th July. Filming for TB10, Gloucestershire, has fallen way behind schedule due to the rotten so-called summer weather we are experiencing. Only Salisbury and Warminster were completed before the early showers turned to steady heavy rain. Two more days, at least, are required, and the long-range forecast is not promising!
2nd June 2008
Following the much-delayed completion of "Todays Buses - Gloucestershire", a start has been made on filming for No.9 in the series, "Todays Buses - Hertfordshire". Visits have been made to Bishops Stortford, Hertford and Waltham Cross, but rain intervened to bring an early end to the days activities.
To make up for late running of the modern stuff, we have forged ahead with some of the archive material, and "After the Act" Volume 26 is now ready for immediate despatch. Filmed in June 1992 and May and June 1993, locations covered are Coventry, Manchester, Bury, Sheffield, Salisbury, Newbury, Reading and Plymouth, plus the briefest of looks at vehicles in dedicated liveries at Luton and Stansted Airports.
After what seems like months of negotiating and correspondence, we are finally set up to accept payment for any of our products by Credit or Debit card. There are no surcharges for card payments, and no minimum order. First class postage to U.K. addresses is £1.00 per disc - overseas orders will be charged postage at cost, plus £1.00 for packing for any quantity.
If ordering by post, or e-mail, please give the following information:
a) Name - exactly as it appears on the card.
b) Card type - Visa, Mastercard, Delta, Electron etc.
c) Card Number (usually 16 digits)
d) Start Date as shown on the card.
e) Expiry Date as shown on the card.
f) Issue Number (required for Debit cards)
g) Last three digits of security number (on signature strip on reverse)
h) Optional - contact telephone number or e-mail address.
i) Full postal address to be sent to, including postcode.
As always, it will help us to give you a better service if you can write your requirements as clearly as possible. Return addresses that do not contain a correct postcode are usually treated as second class post by Royal Mail.
If you prefer, you can place your order by telephone. This facility will normally be available Monday through to Saturday, from midday to nine in the evening. Please have your card ready when you call. An answer phone will record messages if there is nobody available to take your call. DO NOT leave card details on the answer-phone. Leave your name and telephone number when prompted to do so, and somebody will call you back ASAP.
Our number - 01908 233104
Please note that this number is ONLY an orderline. General enquiries cannot be dealt with by the person taking your order.
SECURITY & DATA PROTECTION
Customer names and addresses are stored in a computer database for two years following your most recent transaction. Records of customers with whom we have had no dealings for two years are removed from our database. Details held are for internal use only, and are not under any circumstances passed to third parties. Information held is limited to name, address, date and details of all transactions.
Credit and Debit card information WILL NOT be retained on file, and once your order has been processed, card information will be destroyed.
OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS
We welcome orders from overseas customers, and ex-pats in particular will find much of interest in our catalogue. Credit card orders will be converted to your local currency by your card issuer. They will normally make a modest charge for this. We will despatch by Air Mail Letter Post unless you instruct us otherwise. Postage will be charged at cost, and a charge of £1.00 will be made to cover secure packaging.