A clapperboard “from The Godfather” was listed on eBay today in the Entertainment Memorabilia > Movie Memorabilia > Props > Originals category. This for sale listing serves as a good case study for simple analysis of auctions such as these that make up a large percentage of offerings on eBay.
eBay Seller: dadajuicepower
Auction Title: “The Godfather Movie Prop (Free Shipping)”
Noted Source/Provenance: None Stated
eBay Item #: 120385331224
End Date: 03/05/09
Auction Result: Starting Bid $49.99, “Buy It Now” $129.99
Full Auction Archive: “The Godfather Movie Prop (Free Shipping)”
Description:
Here’s a movie clap from The Godfather….
You can read:
Production: The Godfather
Director: F.F Coppola
Camera #1
Date: 03-04-71
Take: 3This thing is a must have for any The Godfather fans or any movie fans. Will look excellent framed. This item was carefully keep away from the dust, sunlight and smoke. What you see is what you get. I ship Wednesday or Friday. I contact the winner to inform of the received payment and I contact the day I ship.
Free Shipping
Payment is due within 5 days of auction end.
Thanks for looking
Primary Photo:
Analysis:
A July 2008 article archived information about the production of the film, The Godfather, for the purpose of researching another clapperboard offered for sale at auction:
As the prior research pertains to this clapperboard offered at auction today, the latest release of The Godfather Legacy by Harlan Lebo established a production start date of March 29, 1971.
The eBay clapperboard lists a date of March 3, 1971 – 26 days prior to the official start of production.
More, a simple search found a matching “contemporary/faux” style clapperboard offered for sale, such as the one below from Amazon.com for $1.96:
Comparison Photo:
Jason De Bord
Jason DeBord, Original Prop Blog