8mm Forum: 17.5mm Pathe Natan on its way

This is topic 17.5mm Pathe Natan on its way in forum 9.5mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000134

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on June 18, 2011, 08:02 PM:

Thanks to the generosity of forum member Hans van der Sloot in taking his own personal time to travel, pick up, and then pack and ship a projector for me I am days away from being in the possession of a 17.5mm optical sound PATHE NATAN to add to my collection...I cannot say enough nice things about Hans for both reaching out to me when I put a request for someone, and for the amount of time he took to help out a fellow collector...

[ June 19, 2011, 01:43 AM: Message edited by: Dino Everette ]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on June 19, 2011, 10:53 AM:

Well Dino, according to my calculations, you now own equipment of all the various film sizes, 35mm, 28mm, 17.5mm, 16mm, 9.5mm, 8.75mm, super 8mm, 8mm, and 4.75mm! Quite a collection! [Smile]

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on June 19, 2011, 02:06 PM:

Thanks Paul but I think the thing I am thus far most proud of is that with my collection I have presented public screenings of 4.75, 8, super 8, 9.5, 16, and 28mm, and will obviously expand that to 17.5, and hopefully soon the 16mm sound on disc. The diversity of what I like to call the "alternative cinema" has always been there throughout history and as an archivist by trade hobbyist by preference, I enjoy what this alternative cinema has to offer us.......Now if only the Spielberg camp would recognize what they have on their hands and release "The Case" as the first studio released super 8 film in years. It would be the perfect marketing component and it wouldn't hurt their bluray/dvd sales one bit.... Long live the alternative cinema.... : )

Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on June 20, 2011, 05:42 AM:

I am deeply jealous of you, Dino. Where do you put all this wonderful equipment? I would love to build such a collection but just haven't the room in my old homestead in Bromley, Kent. May possible move to long beach near to you?
There was a wonderful series made by Channel 4 TV in England, called 'Mad about machines', and one particular episode in 1997 looked at a chap called Harold Bailey, who was well known in home movie circles for increasing light output on projectors. I believe the national film theatre called on his help when an 8mm show was required. He became know as 'Bailey the light', but was a very modest sort of fellow who just happened to be obsessed with projectors. He had, at the time of the programme, something like 150 projectors of all kinds. Unfortunately he lived in an average house which was packed to the roof with these machines, up the stairs, under the beds, on top of wardrobes etc. Understandably his marriage broke up when his wife gave him the ultimatum, 'Either the projectors go or I go!' Apparently he hesitated a little too long, and that was the end of that relationship!
I don't suppose for a minute that you've reached such extremes, but I know that if I didn't grit my teeth when trawling through Ebay, things could get out of control!

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on June 20, 2011, 12:47 PM:

I have 2 secrets that are crucial!

1) My wife Sherra is an absolute gem, and understands my obsessions, and accepted me in spite of them...Our very first date I explained alot of this to her and she surprisingly came back for more so I married her... She is actually coming with me in September for the Group 9.5 50th anniversary get-together...She does have limits in the house (we have a very modest 2 bedroom condo) which is where the 2nd secret comes in..

2) Work by trade as a film archivist!! I have my films and projectors spread around town in the archives that I have and currently work at specifically so that I may keep my marriage together...

I realize that I am in a unique position, and wish that you dd live in long Beach as it is much more fun to share this stuff...

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on June 20, 2011, 12:48 PM:

Well, some collector was once quoted as saying that " I never met a projector I did'nt like", and I suspect most of us here feel the same way. There is something magically attractive about movie projectors, and I would probably have a few more if I knew where to put them.
In Dino's case, he is building up what seems to be a really significant collection of movie equipment that would probably be welcomed by many museums and institutions in the USA. Maybe his collection will someday be in the UCLA archives. [Smile]

Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on June 20, 2011, 05:32 PM:

Hi again, Dino. I am a member of Group 9.5 so may also drop in for the anniversary.

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on June 20, 2011, 05:40 PM:

by the way I'd love to see that episode of mad about machines have you a copy?

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on June 21, 2011, 06:58 AM:

You have email Dino [Cool]

Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on June 21, 2011, 05:42 PM:

Hi, Dino, the 'Mad about machines' episode is a rather jumpy off air recording on VHS borrowed from a friend, but can make make a DVD +RW recording if you like. Can you run that type? If so I'll send off. It runs about 25mins.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on June 21, 2011, 11:52 PM:

Dino, do you have a scan of 4.75mm film? Isn't that a 'scope-shaped image (flat) with center hole?

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on June 22, 2011, 12:21 AM:

Bill it is actually more of a Vista-Vision style with the perf hole in between each frame...I thought I put a picture up here before but now I can't find it...but I'll try and post one in the next couple of days..

Allan - I sent you a PM with my address in it....

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on June 22, 2011, 02:04 PM:

Sideways, then??? Well, actually, that kinda makes sense. Would love to see a picture. Better, would love to see a show.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on June 22, 2011, 07:42 PM:

Yes Bill, it is indeed just like horizontal VistaVsion, but without the 'Motion Picture High Fidelity'! [Big Grin]

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on June 30, 2011, 01:05 AM:

The Natan has arrived safe and sound in sunny California, and believe it or not tomorrow is my birthday....

Have I mentioned how great Hans van der Sloot is? ?? ? ? ? ? [Big Grin]

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on September 01, 2013, 07:20 AM:

Dino, you have a fantastic collection. Can you tell me if the 17.5mm guage disappeared completely in 1941. I have a 17.5mm reel stamped Pathe Cinema, Paris.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on September 01, 2013, 09:32 AM:

Following Wikipedia in French, the 17,5 mm stopped in 1942 as the German banned it and forced all the registred materiel to be converted to 16 mm which was the gauge there were using for their propaganda.

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on September 01, 2013, 09:56 AM:

Thank you Dominique.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on September 01, 2013, 10:12 AM:

It was intersting to have a look at wikipedia as I took the opportunity to read what they said about the 28 mm gauge. I discovered that it had a better sucess in the US (under the name of Pathescope !) than in Europe as 10.000 projectors were sold there but it seems that it actually was not the same gauge we know here. In Europe it has three perforations on one side and one perforation on the other while in the US (and in Canada) it has three perforations on both sides. Was it the same purpose than the zones on the dvds ?

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on September 01, 2013, 10:52 AM:

I understand they had 28mm in China. Why can't they make all DVDs region free. I bought lots of DVDs in Russia, as they have the Pal system. They played on my Multi Region DVD player except one that kept saying Wrong Region. I made a copy on my computer then watched it on TV after.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on September 01, 2013, 12:01 PM:

I don't know about 28 mm in China. I just readed about their 8,75 mm gauge. When they made the dvds, they didn't want that people from Europe or Asia could watch films before they were released in the cinemas, so they made specifics zones. Of course, it is now useless as it is possible to crack many dvds players and watch a film from Internet. With digital, no doubt that the industry is loosing money.

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on September 02, 2013, 01:07 AM:

Forgive me as I have been off the forums for awhile, but in answer to the 28mm questions...Both the US and Canada did start off with the 3 and 1 perforations, but at the end of the teens Mr. Alexander Victor attempted to standardize the gauge with the newly proposed 3 and 3 perforated film.The problem of course was any new machine designed this way would not play all of the old films, so the gauge soon fell by the wayside... From this point on you could find films being printed with both the 3 and 3 perforation and 3 and 1 perforation...I have 2 features that weren't even made until 1926 (That Model in Paris, and College Days) and were sold by a distributor in Canada that are 3 and 1 perforated, so it is not as easy as saying this country had this, and this country had that.

As for 8.75mm Chinese film, I have a reel, but still haven't been able to acquire a projector yet....My latest bizarro gauge i have been playing with is the 125mm Vitalux...The film was sold in a circular cone that rotates around a post as the lamp and lens slowly slide up the cylinder. A masterpiece of over-engineering, I plan on doing a paper and presentation of the gauge next year, after I shoot and project some brand new 3mm Eric Berndt film .... The format fun never ends in the Everett household [Smile]

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on September 02, 2013, 03:47 AM:

Hello Dino, I have viewed some of your videos on Youtube, your collection is amazing.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on September 02, 2013, 09:04 AM:

Welcome back Dino, only yesterday I was thinking that you had not posted in quite a while.
That Vitalux is something I have never heard of - just incredible. Can't wait for you to post it on YouTube.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 06, 2013, 10:23 AM:

Here is some information on Pathescope's short lived Duplex 4.75mm.

http://www.pathescope.freeserve.co.uk/Monaco/Manual.html#monoplex

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2