Pathe Vox Mains Plug

[Bren Jacques]

Hi all,

I'm hoping members of this forum may be able to help. I'm desperately seeking a mains plug for my Pathe Super Vox project. I'm currently building a good example from a few scrap projectors and spares I have but unfortunately none have mains leads.

I have successfully fitted IEC sockets to my standard Vox machines in order to get around this problem in the past but as the Super Vox has the mains input on the side of the projector itself it isn't as easy to fit a IEC socket without hacking the lower casting in order to fit one. The only real solution is to find an original mains plug to save any alterations to the projector.

It's been my ambition from the start of the project to complete the final projector as close to how it would have left the Pathe factory so if anybody can help in providing the correct plug the that would be a great help and save me from having to alter the original power input.

[Ken Finch]

Hi Bren. From the layout of the 3 pins, the plug that was used on the Pathescope 200B from the resistance may be suitable. Alternatively, contact Patrick Moules of the Vintage Film Circle, e mail novascope@aol.com may be able to help as he is dealing the content of the late Martyn Stevens (Mr Cinedistan) who restored projectors including the Super Vox. There may be a plug amongst other bits as there are 2 incomplete machines and parts listed. Tell Patrick what you are doing and mention that I have put you in touch with him from your forum post. You can also still access the Cinerdistan website to see what Martyn did re the Super VOX, but maybe you have already done this!

[Bren Jacques]

Hi Ken, thanks for the tip regarding the 200B plug, although it's a male version if I can get my hands on one then I'm sure it could be modified quite easily into a female type, it certainly looks otherwise identical spare the the brass parts. It's a shame electrical safety wasn't more strict back then as live male pins was a real no-no from around the late 30s onwards, if it had been a little earlier then the 200B unit may have been fitted with an identical female plug.

I have been in contact with Patrick for some time and visited him recently for some S/V spares for my project. From all of the searching we only came across one plug which was already earmarked. I could however ask that if he finds any more to keep me in mind, I didn't at the time as I thought it may have been quite simple to change the power inlet on the super vox but unfortunately after looking into it a little further it would require more modification than I'm prepared to do especially as originality is important.

[Ken Finch]

Hi Bren, It had slipped my mind that the 200b plug was male a not female. This was because the mains input for the 200b was a 2 pin one on the opposite side of the projector bas and the 3pin one was output to the resistance and back again for motor and lamp. Good luck with the rebuild. Unfortunately we have to make so many modifications to keep these old machines usable.

[Bren Jacques]

Ah that makes more sense! It wasn't uncommon for live male plugs around the early 30s but it seems that isn't the case with the 200b. If I can find a 200b plug then I'm sure it can be modified. The contacts on the vox look to be the same diameter as the old standard 3 amp round pin plugs so they should be easy to obtain and thus modify the plug.

I do have a number of ongoing Vox projects, one has had some amp modifications and works quite well, I'm also building a standard Vox to an 'unmodified' condition which is nearing completion. My aim is to have one standard and one Super Vox as they'd have left the Pathe factory but it has taken a number of scrap machines in order to complete the project. Now I have the knowledge that a male version of the plug exists I'm sure that will make a nigh on impossible task a little easier.