Discussion: What I want for Xmas (Thomas video)

15 years ago many Ontario orienteers were so 'inspired' by the Swedish Orienteering Federation movie (in English) titled 'Thomas the Orienteer' that we named our winter orienteering series after it (THOMASS). Now entering its 15th season, THOMASS is a handicapped system O race series but sadly lacks a link to its great leader - Thomas the Orienteer.

I would be very grateful (and it would make a great belated Xmas present) if somebody can track down this video and get it onto YouTube! Once you see it you will see why we cherish this video so greatly!

While you're looking for "Thomas' how about finding "What Makes Them Run?' or the first orienteering film I ever saw, the Swedish 'Spik Pa'. It was dubbed in to English but still had the Swedish titles. All went well with the American military audiences until the Swedish word for 'the end' was superimposed over the image of the great Ulla Lindquist.

This movie (Thomas Skärmfinnaren) was one of the first experiences I had of orienteering when I started in the mid-60ies. At the beginner´s courses in those days you always started to learn orienteering indoors for a couple of weeks - doing a lot of exercises on how to set degrees on your compass and such. So a promotional movie was certainly a nice break. I´ve seen it several times after that and it only gets 'better' with age ;-)

gordhun >> Yeah - I´ve heard those stories :)

Did anyone ever find this film online? It doesn't come up in a quick search but I think I remember seeing it somewhere a long time ago.

I'm asking because I just found it on an old film reel that was stored for 20 years with some Orienteering Ontario files. I was expecting to find it posted on YouTube, which would make the film reel easy to throw out - but I may need to keep it around for Hammer's next Christmas gift. ;)

OK, I've learned enough Swedish at this point that I got Gord's joke without having to look it up.

Found something similar: Hörnefors Orientering 1962-1966 Del 1

Thinking about it a little more, I may have seen "Thomas the Orienteer" at a GHO Christmas party so it may or may not have been online.

I found it with an Elmo 16-CL film projector. I threw out the filthy leather case but I'm going to pull it out of the garbage for now. It looks like Orienteering Ontario could almost cover our 2020 losses if we sell this thing!

People are asking $300-$400 on ebay for the projector, looks like they're actually selling for $100-$200.

I think I have a VHS version of the video. Need to get it onto youtube for sure.
It is a classic.

@JJ: Ah, well. That would be OOA's only revenue in 2020 so any amount would do!

@Hammer, if you find out, let me know. I'd like to get rid of the big film reel but not if you still need it for Christmas.

Please under no circumstances throw out that film or the projector. The film must be digitized.

Oh no, I’ll only throw it out if someone already has a good copy. It was kept in a damp garage for years so I don’t know that the projector will work. The film itself looks fine.

Interesting revival of an old thread with my comment being the last 12 years ago ;-)

I was wondering if it might be some kind of record! But knowing AP, probably not.

The producer (?) of this film (Mats Harrysson) is on Facebook and according to a post I found in another forum he has already digitized it. It´s probably possible to contact him to get hold of a copy?

That would be great, Bubo! I'll send him a message.

Any update?

I am invested in seeing this carried out please gib link

I wrote Mats but he didn't answer. Does anyone know him? I still have the old film reel and Elmo 16-CL film projector taking up space in our guest bedroom. I remember seeing the film at a Dontgetlost get-together 10-20 years ago so I'm sure there is a newer version out there in Ontario. If Mats has a digitized version that he's willing to share, that would be even better.

When moving from Hamilton earlier this year I found a VHS copy of the Thomas the Orienteer movie.

Thomas the Orienteer or Thomas Skärmfinnaren in Swedish is the film they are seeking. Where is it now?