Pathe Son

[Terry Sills]

This has been listed on eBay as a fully working projector. The lister is very familiar with projectors but is disingenuous, in my opinion, as it is only been tested by switching it in on to show that the motor and lamp works. No mention of the amplifier which is the Mark 1, which uses the old large valves which caused the amplifier to overheat and fail. I guarantee that it it will not work because of age and degradation and is very easy to establish as working,by interrupting the light beam to the pec with a piece of paper. You will see That the asking price is ridiculously high and No Returns. These sellers do the hobby absolutely no favours and discourage new members.
Shame on them.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186067497...Bk9SR7rgrpLOYg

[Terry Sills]

The seller has since partially tested the amplifier which is good but only a test with sound film will establish the full test. The Mk1’s were fraught with problems so totally unreliable.

[Stuart Reid]

Terry, what's a reasonable price for one of these?

[Ken Finch]

As a 9.5er with over 70 years experience of 9.5mm films and equipment I would not touch it with a barge pole. It is notorious for breakdowns but even worse is the film path from the sound head to the underside of the sprocket. The curvature of the path is so small that it causes the film sprocket holes to rip. Added to which the price being asked is laughable. Having said that, there have been a few people who have made modifications to make a usable machine but in this day and age it would not be worth the expense. Ken Finch😏

[Terry Sills]

Hello Stuart
I’ve had three of these both Mk 1 and Mk2. The last one was a Mk2 which I managed to get part re wired and working well. I Sold that for £150.00. If you’re thinking of getting one, go for the Mk2 which use the small octel valves. You will have to be very lucky to get one in good working order, so allow at least £50 for repairs. I wouldn’t pay more than £100.00 for one in good cosmetic shape.
Although they are an iconic looking projector they are not recommended for playing valuable 9.5 film.
Ken has put it in a nutshell!
Terry

[Lee Mannering]

I'll have one complete with speaker case at Rickmansworth October a very clean machine indeed. I've been tasked with selling it for an estate, sadly.

Probably had 10 or so Son projectors over decades, always found them fun although most have been got at by previous owners so you usually do a full refurbishment.

Keep the film loops wide and then run OK if we'll maintained which is the key. Oh and they dont like damaged films.

Enjoy

[Graham Sinden]

A problem I heard is the motor just wasn't strong enough to run at 24 fps as it was based on the silent model.

[Terry Sills]

Quite true. It was overvolted which caused the motor to overheat and fail.

[Allan Broadfield]

There are also currently two Vox sound projectors, (a more reliable model) but neither in working order of course and rather overpriced, one being £425.
Generally speaking, most projectors of any guage on ebay seem to be priced at eye watering prices, with very little if anything right with them.
The ebay effect?
Incidentally, try and sell one on 'Bargain Hunt' - it's a niche item, nobody wants to know, yet us enthusiasts are taken as mugs online.
Am I bitter?

[Bren Jacques]

I too have a Son that has been a project for a while though it is now working very well. As said they aren't really the best choice for precious or fragile films but they can work well if properly maintained and restored. Sound reproduction isn't amazing and smoothing at the sound head isn't great but for what you were paying in c.1950 I suppose it did reflect value for money for access to the world of sound home cinema.

If I remember correctly I paid about £120 for mine a couple of years back, it was totally original and unrestored, virtually a similar description to what is advertised here. It still took a lot of work to make it into a usable projector.

Also be aware that the one listed looks to have been modified. The mains lead originally goes through the side rather than the rear (which is originally the speaker output socket), the speaker output socket is where the gram input socket should be and there is also no rheostat control so likely the motor isn't the original. Also, I'd be surprised if the amplifier is one of the original valve types as there shouldn't be an output transformer housed in the speaker/casing. If it is then the speaker cable is likely to have HT voltage passing through which isn't very safe.

[Terry Sills]

Bren you are absolutely correct. It has been modified, so who knows how well it will work. There also seems to be some modification to the tube which channels light to the PEC. If I was the seller I would definitely get a 9.5 sound film to test it properly. That would give so much more credence to it being fully working. However, like Ken, I still wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole, especially anywhere near that output transformer 😳

[Bren Jacques]

Hi Terry,

Yes it looks like somebody's past project and who knows, they may well have done a very good job BUT as I have also found in the past you can end up undoing a lot of so called 'modifications'. If anybody was thinking of ever buying a Son the best bet is to get an original untouched one and go about restoring it yourself unless one comes up for sale fully restored but again you'd want it as they were designed really.

I've had similar experiences with two Vox projectors I own, one had been so badly modified I've ended up buying another scrap machine to make one good example from the two. I recently purchased another Vox from a friend where the valve amplifier has been modified to include bass, treble and volume controls and I can't fault the modifications, it been done very well.

[David Hardy]

I have an original MK 1 Son in my collection still . I had a look at it a couple a weeks ago but would not dare attempt to run a print through it . It is now looking quite unsafe to switch on as the cables are starting to turn gooey with age . It needs a full rewire and new valves . Still it makes a nice unusual looking projector display piece meantime .