8mm Forum: Pathex - 1927 Home Movies

This is topic Pathex - 1927 Home Movies in forum 9.5mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on November 19, 2013, 12:46 PM:

I thought I'd have a little fun with a few of the home movies that came with my Pathe' Baby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQL4M9MxZnI

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 19, 2013, 12:55 PM:

I am not a fan of video transferts but you did a good job. The titling and the editing make a very enjoyable clip ! Well done, Janice...

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on November 19, 2013, 07:42 PM:

Thanks Dominique...I understand your feelings about transfers. Video lacks the essence of film. But, since it's not very practical to bring my projectors to show my films to all friends and family...this is the next best way I can preserve and share these images. I love video editing as much as I love old projectors and watching film. I've found that telecine has allowed me to combine video and film for a very enjoyable hobby [Smile]

Posted by John Yapp (Member # 2873) on November 20, 2013, 01:05 PM:

As you know Janice, I love a good tranfer. One thing I've noticed about your treatment of silent film is how you always seem to use very appropriate music in the background.
Now I have a question. As my Exposure to 9.5mm is virtually nil, and given that yours is a hand cranked camera, so you adjust as you go, what is the "correct" fps to display natural movement, similar to 8mm?

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 20, 2013, 01:24 PM:

John, the correct speed is the one that makes look a normal movment on the screen. As a guide, the first Pathé Baby projectors ran at 14 fps (to save filmstock as much as possible).

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on November 20, 2013, 02:47 PM:

I really don't make a big effort to make the perfect transfer with my Pathe' Baby. I just try to pick a speed and stay with it. I've noticed that the commercial films actually show less flicker on video than the home movies...so they probably are at different frame rates. I think the flicker is part of the endearing quality of these old films.

Posted by John Yapp (Member # 2873) on November 20, 2013, 02:55 PM:

thanks Dominique, I asked because I read somewhere that early 9.5mm projectors ran at 12fps but wasn't sure.
Janice, I agree that a bit of flicker helps to convey the atmosphere that these old films evoke. I am surprised at how often the projectors and films pop up on ebay, and may yet be tempted...

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 20, 2013, 03:17 PM:

Hi Janice,
What a wonderful job you have done on these old Pathex casettes.
I have similar home movie casettes which came with my ebay purchase of a Pathe Baby. But your telecine transfer and the added music really brings them to life again.
It is fascinating to look at these films and ponder about the lives of the people who appear on the screen, where they lived, what paths their lives took, particularly with the looming WW2, where are their family today. One thing for sure, they were all wealthy. A Pathe Baby projector and camera cost a fortune relative to income back then, it was a real luxury item.

Posted by Clinton Hunt (Member # 2072) on November 20, 2013, 08:33 PM:

Well done Janice,and the actual movies are lots of fun to watch [Smile]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 22, 2013, 04:39 AM:

One turn of the crank on the Pathe Baby equals seven frames, hence to obtain the correct speed of 14fps the crank needs to be turned twice a second.

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