FAQ:
(People often ask me what 'FAQ' stands for. GIYF.)
- Q: I've got one, can you tell me how much it's worth?
- A: No. We've bought & sold thousands of transfers, & we still haven't a clue. The same item can sell for pennies one day, & thousands the next. The other day I bought an unused Panorama which I had personally valued very highly, for £6.50 including postage. If your set has any sentimental or curiosity value (or if you just think it's great), then hang on to it, because it will be worth more to you than you are likely to get selling it; or even better, send it on a return trip to the SPLAT Scan Archives, & get your name in lights.
- Q: Will you buy it or help me find a buyer?
- A: We can certainly mention it for you on the Facebook Action Transfers Page if you're very nice about it. We might even send out a flurry of emails if we know of people who will be particularly interested! As a last resort we suggest eBay, although eBay really is a lottery. If you end up listing it there, remember to tell us AS WELL, so that we can find it — it's simple common sense to increase your potential market by inviting those most likely to bid!
- Q: Do you have any spare transfers for sale?
- A: Not here; join SPLAT & see what's available there.
- Q: How do I join SPLAT?
- A: See "How to Join SPLAT", below. (Spoiler: it couldn't be easier! We're no longer a closed group.)
- Q: Does anyone still make these transfers anymore and if so, where can I get them?
- A: Most of these sets are long gone now! You can still find some of them for sale as collectibles. Hopefully soon we'll be reproducing our own sets!
- Q: What do you mean, 'collectibles'?
- A: Stock purchased, often when new, with the intention of collecting it — & maybe selling it years later for a shocking profit.
- Q: So where would I find these collectibles?
- A: Easily your best bet is to join SPLAT, where we have over 200 members constantly looking out for them.
- Q: Does anyone plan to reproduce the original sets?
- A: Yes, SPLAT does — starting with some of the Panoramas (but expanding if successful). And we have already started selling inexpensive high-quality reproductions of some of the rarer Free Gift items that otherwise most people would not be able to afford.
- Q: Does anyone produce anything similar nowadays?
- A: Yes, there are loads of new transfer sets available, although none of them are as spectacular as the 1960s sets.
- Q: Where can I get transfers made, & how much will it cost?
- A: Short runs will be expensive, so if you just want one sheet it will set you back a bit! There are quite a few companies producing dry transfers, but we would especially recommend Acorn, since historically they are very closely tied with Letraset. Tell them SPLAT sent you! (UPDATE 2019: Acorn are no longer trading, I'm sorry to say.)
- Q: What about these "SPLAT Scan Archives"?
- A: Many of our members are less interested in collecting than in preserving, & high-resolution scanning is our preferred method of preservation. If you have a set which we haven't already scanned, then we are very interested in either accepting it as a donation, or in borrowing it from you to scan for the Archives. All the items in the Archives eventually end up online in this site, along with a Picture Credit which can say whatever you like (for instance, it can include a link). We are very grateful to the many people who have generously donated items, or who have posted them from all around the World in order to have them scanned.
- Q: Do we have to post stuff to you? Or what?
- Answer No.1 (by email or online file service): if you've got a scanner & you're not afraid to use it, we have some guidelines we can send you to help with all that (transfers are a bit tricky to scan). However, if you are only willing to send photos or quick scans, then we'll still be really, really grateful! Or…
- Answer No.2 (by post or in person): certainly you can post items — in fact, we prefer it, since that way we can be sure they're scanned exactly as we like it. If you do post your items, they will be returned to you with great care; but if you can manage it, why not visit SPLAT Central Command HQ in person, see the Action Transfers museum, & get your items scanned while you wait. We'll be very pleased to meet you!
- Q: Why isn't my favourite set on your site?
- A: We'll get to all of them eventually, but if you tell us which one's your fave we can prioritise it.
- Q: Are you going to display sets from other companies such as Kalkitos, PrestoMagiX, etc?
- A: Absolutely.
- Q: Why do some of the backgrounds have transfers on them, while others don't?
- A: We try to obtain unused sets for the Archives & to display online; when we do, you get to see both the clean backgrounds & the transfer sheet. However, sometimes we have to make do with a set which has been used. We 'upgrade' sets when we get the chance, so if you're disappointed to find a used set, tell us; we might have an upgrade ready to go.
- Q: How about letting us apply our own transfers to the backgrounds, like an online game?
- A: Certainly. Visit our 'Rub-Down Your Own Transfers' Game!
- Q: What are transfers? And how do I apply them? I've got some odd ones I would like to identify… (etc.)
- A: See our 'What are Transfers?' article; there are loads of links at the bottom of that page to help you with anything specific.
- Q: I'm interested in the history side of things / the printing technology… (etc.)
- A: See A Brief History of Letraset & Action Transfers; this will get you properly started, & will even offer you a conducted tour.
How to Join SPLAT:
After many years of experience running a closed, private Forum & sending group emails, we came to the conclusion that the best way for people to keep in touch would be by a combination of personal emails & Facebook messages. Having tried this out over the last year or two, we've found this works so well that we've decided we no longer need a Forum — so the good news is that you don't need to apply anymore to become a member of SPLAT!
In other words, we're no longer a closed group. If you like SPLAT enough to get in touch (see below), then you are a member!
So…
How to Contact Action Transfers (& SPLAT):
Since moving to new servers, "OUR LOVELY CONTACT FORM" no longer works (it was very primitive), so please visit
the Facebook Action Transfers page.
(If you've attempted to send a contact form message to us before, but haven't had a reply, please try again via Facebook.)
If you don't like Facebook, you don't have to have a current Facebook user to send a message, as long as you have had one at some time & can remember how to log in. If you REALLY don't like Facebook & refuse to have anything to do with it, then I'm really sorry! There are other workarounds, but what with everything changing all the time & all the methods we used to use having been taken away from us, I have to keep things as simple as possible. Too many people have thought they'd contacted us, only to find we never received the message; Facebook messages, however, are likely to continue working for the foreseeable future. You could try Googling "Tom Vinelott", but I suspect you'll still end up with Facebook as the only option…
