Posts: 218
From: Kingston upon Thames, UK
Registered: Jul 2013
posted May 20, 2018 03:49 AM
Yesterday I collected my 1911 Pathe 35mm projector after a lengthy restoration.
I acquired the machine back in 2011, and my friend Martyn Stevens did some of the early work on it, replacing the damaged sprockets from another machine, and making a new front shutter. Then the main work was done by Nigel Lister, who made a new lamp house from scratch.
It has a 36v 400w cooled lamp in there. He also did a great deal of work stripping and cleaning the machine, so it now sparkles like new. It's all working - we ran a test film (not nitrate!) on it yesterday.
I'm hoping to do a few shows with it this year at the Cinema Museum and elsewhere. It's very humbling to be able to still crank film through a 107 year old machine. And it predates even 28mm, let alone 9.5mm, 16mm etc!
Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015
posted May 20, 2018 04:33 AM
That is an excellent piece of restoration and a real labour of love there Chris. Absolutely brilliant i would like one of those.
You should do a few more of those if you can find them and maybe open up the world's first Multiplex Silent Cinema.
I will come out of retirement and work for you as a projectionist.
-------------------- " My equipment's more important than your rats. "
Posts: 218
From: Kingston upon Thames, UK
Registered: Jul 2013
posted May 20, 2018 02:43 PM
Thanks so much gents, your enthusiasm is much appreciated. I love that our hobby can encompass everything from a GS1200 Xenon right back to this pioneering era. I feel so privileged not only to have found this machine, but also the skilled people capable of brining it back to life.
David, actually it's not as far fetched as you might think, I have a total of 5 silent era 35mm machines in various states of completeness and restoration! Two are fully restored to working order, one is too incomplete to even think about. And I am pondering the future of this Gaumont machine from 1913 - it's missing quite a lot, and I am thinking of donating it to a new museum that has just opened, if they want it.
Posts: 218
From: Kingston upon Thames, UK
Registered: Jul 2013
posted May 24, 2018 03:00 AM
Thanks so much everyone! Yes, really thrilled to own it, and I'm busy lining up a few shows for it.
If anyone has any silent (i.e. full aperture) material on 35mm, safety stock, get in touch! I have about four reels worth of material, but will certainly be on the look out for more.