Grahame N's Web Pages


MIDGET MOVIE
9.5MM
CINE CAMERA/PROJECTOR

from Grahame L. Newnham B.Sc.


Midget Movie Ltd
Midget Movie Works,
Garford Street,
LONDON, E14
UK


9.5mm Midget Movie camera/projector

I was prompted to add this page because of a query from an Italian collector who has the other 9.5mm camera/projectors but was intrigued by this 'Midget Movie' camera/projector. A bit of 'googling shows that there must be at least four examples still around - the Kodak Collection, the fantastic cine collector in Holland M. Rogge another UK collector and myself. My example has a serial number of 3, so were there many others?

The Italian collector has a 9.5mm Midget Movie camera/projector now - - serial number 4 - there must be more examples out there!

I do have an instruction booklet for this rather weird item, so know a little more about the thing! (A belated thanks to Phil Laquel for this!)


There is (or was!) a sample of the 9.5mm Midget Movie cine camera/projector in the Kodak Collection now held at the National Media Museum, Bradford, UK. I recall the Kodak Collection in large oldish looking wooden sided glass display cases properly anotated. But not sure if it is still on display. The on-line museum catalogue doesn't have pictures, but the catalogue entry reads as below:-

The Midget Movie Camera and Projector. Plastic body movie camera and projector for 9.5mm. Fitted with a simple lens with rotating plate with four apertures. Oscillating shutter, claw drive, concentric feed and takeup reels.. Built in 6v lamp for projection. Hand turned. Simple wire frame finder. Darkroom loaded. Midget Movie Ltd.

My example has just two apertures in the rotating plate behind the lens. (known as 'Waterhouse' stops). The internal mechanism is assembled on a 'mazak' chassis - my example has had the damaged 'mazak' repaired, but distortion means the mechanism won't now turn. I guess the previous owner modified a Pathéscope 'H'cine camera lens to fit and also fitted a brass tripod bush on the base and presumably a better viewfinder mounted where the two screw holes are visible on the top.

We can see from the instruction booklet that it was 'British Made' - hence maybe the Brittania emblem on the front.

I am guessing around 1932 for a date, there seems no printer's date on the instruction booklet. The cine amateur's 'bible' - The Amateur Cine World' didn't start life until 1935, so we need to look elsewhere for trade advertisements. Maybe the 'Amateur Photographer' magazine or a technical 'hobby' magazine like 'Practical Mechanics'. So far the only real mention of this 9.5mm camera/projector is in my own article in our club magazine a few years ago.



My own 9.5mm Midget Movie - but that Pathéscope 'H' lens is a later modification!



Brittania emblem on the front of the 9.5mm Midget Movie



Inside the Midget Movie - mechanism body made from the dreaded 'mazak' - someone has repaired this



Inside the Midget Movie - film held in concentric rolls
- camera film is loaded in a darkroom!! Top tube is lamp and condenser lens


9.5mm Midget Movie camera/projector - INSTRUCTION BOOK


 


I would be grateful for any extra details or information about the Midget Movie 9.5mm cine camera/projector.

©Grahame L. Newnham - Aug2018.


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Created 04Aug2018 .......... Last updated: 11 August 2018 ............ 95gearmidgetmovie.htm ............ © Grahame L. Newnham's Web Pages MMXV111