8mm Forum: pathe son

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Topic: pathe son

Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler

Posts: 452
From: Bromley, Kent
Registered: Nov 2010

posted March 16, 2011 04:57 PM

As a youngster (many moons ago) I wanted to own a Pathe Son projector. Unfortunately I only got as far as an 'Ace' before converting to 8mm then later 16mm. I'm still fascinated by anything 9.5mm, and recently got hold, courtesy of Grahame Newnham, of a copy of the same pathescope catalogue that had interested me all those years ago. The 'Son', which was the cheapest sound projector at the time was still way out of my pocket and all these years later I still haven't seen one in the flesh, so to speak. Was it as temperamental as people seem to say? Has anyone any memories of this machine?

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted March 17, 2011 10:01 AM

Hello Allan. Just a quick message which I hope helps.
Yes I also started with the Pathescope Son sound machine and have had several over far too many years. Most will frown on the Son but I still believe it is a good economical introduction to 9-5 sound providing you don’t intend to run it for ages. It’s a simple machine to work on and people often remove the motor and replace with one from say a super 8 Norisound projector using modern speed control circuits. Amplification can also be upgraded to a small mono kit amp and photo diode which makes a nice tidy job. You’ll gather from all this I have quite fond memories of the Son and spent many happy times upgrading them to perform just that little bit better. The main thing to remember is they are old, need much loving & looking after and not suited for long shows due to the limitations of design. But if you are thinking of entering the 9-5 sound world are have some knowledge of tinkering it’s the only way to go at the lower end of the price bracket. Son machines in the last couple of years have sold for between £50 non working and nearly £400 for a runner on nutbay, but the best way to find a reasonable machine will be at a film fair where you can see it and have a play. Whoever buys a Son expect to maintain it though as the original amp and motor are quite unreliable. A few years ago my best Son exploded during a show and chums who were present still pull my leg about that one.

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Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler

Posts: 452
From: Bromley, Kent
Registered: Nov 2010

posted March 18, 2011 04:45 PM

Hi Lee, that's fascinating. Due to my ignorance to anything electrical I admire anyone who can do the sort of conversions you describe, perhaps I should bone up and take this up as a hobby. I gather that the 'Son' when first marketed, was pretty reliable but later corners were cut in production to lower the price even more, and that was when problems became more apparent. I am in Group 9.5 and it was at one of their meetings that I heard 9.5 sound for the first time,using the 'Buckingham' conversion which was excellent. Thanks for your input.I appreciate it. Allan

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