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THE 9.5MM PATHÉSCOPE
KID CINE PROJECTOR

from Grahame L. Newnham B.Sc.


The little 'Pathéscope Kid' 9.5mm cine projector was announced in the October 1930 edition of the Pathéscope 'house magazine' - the Pathéscope Monthly, Just in time for Christmas! With the massive financial slump, the existing 'Pathé-Baby' or 'Home Movie' 9.5mm silent cine projector was now proving far too expensive for the man in the street. This little effort, designed and manufactured in France cost only 55/- (£2.75) compared to the £6 price of the Pathé-Baby machine.


Pathéscope Monthly magazine October 1930

Of simple presssed steel construction the 'Kid', was originally finished in a black crackle enamel, although the sample I have is finished in high-glass black enamel. The 'Pathéscope Kid' had a simple 'push-through' film gate, which proved difficult to clean and hence produced many scratched 9.5mm films! It had a notched-title device which halted the claw mechanism at each notch on the film prints, being released by pressing on the steel lever on the base of the projector. The basic projector just accepted the 30 foot / 10 metre snd 60 foot / 20 metre 9.5mm films supplied in the little metal cassettes. The film ran into a small enclosure at the bottom of the machine, being rewound using a small detachable rewind handle supplied with the projector, but often lost these days! Despite the initial adverts and the sales leaflet mentioning that the super-attachment for the larger 300 foot / 100 metre spools would not fit, later a suitable super-attachment was made available, my example seen below has this super-attachment fitted.

The 'Kid' had a twin bladed claw mounted on an arm, which achieved it's up/down - in/out movement driven by a simple wheel mounted on a shaft with a small flywheel at the other end. This is easily exposed by pulling off the small side cover (you have to unscrew the drive handle first). See the photo below - a little lubrication sometimes does help! The shutter is a single barrel type, giving about 40% light transmission. This compares with the 67% of the Pathê-Baby projector and later 'Ace' machines with a proper shutter. The lens focal length is supposed to be 32mm with an aperture of maybe f3.5 although Dennis Neale's book suggests f2.



Pathéscope 1931 catalogue

By 1931 a leatherette carry case was available for the 'Kid' projector to hold just the basic projector and dropper resistance.



Pathéscope 1931 catalogue

The 'Pathéscope Kid' used a similar compact optical system as the previous 'Pathe-Baby'/'Home Movie' model, and the small tubular lamp with the Pathé 'T' piece fitting as used in the original 'Pathé-Baby/Home-Movie' projector. The standard lamp supplied was the 12 volt 0.5amp 6 watt version - ref. no. B.P.109. This was supplied from the mains via a dropper resistance housed in a circular metal case. A later "C" type, 20 volt (10watt) lamp offered a little more illumination. These lamps were all 0.5 amp current rating hence could still operate from the same dropper resistance, Just to complicate matters, a brighter lamp - "D" type, 20 volts 20watts was also offered later, but this needed an upgraded dropper resistance - Pathéscope did a 'trade-in' offer to allow owners to swop their dropper resistances for a small fee.

This variation of lamp voltages and currents must havre caused many lamp failures amid the confusion and no doubt havoc for the dealers! A transformer would possibly have been a better idea, but at that time parts of the UK still had D.C. (Direct Current() mains supplies which could only work with dropper resistances. In fact some houses still had no mains electricity, hence the mention of accumulators to supply the lamps! (Luckily I seem to have grown up with A.C. mains which enabled me to experimemt with all manner of deadly wires, switches, lamps etc. from an early age; although an old lady down the street still had gas lighting!)

It looks quite straightforward to fit modern QI halogen G4 base lamps like the little 6volt 10watt M29 often used in the Pathé-Baby lamp conversions. Just remember that anything above 10watts will begin to ruin the single frames on the early 'notched' 9./5mm film prints, However there are now LED 'imitations' of this type of lamp - I am waiting to try some......



Pathéscope Monthly magazine Feb1930

By 1931 Pathéscope offered a nice black leatherette carry case for the 'Kid' 9.5mm projector - probably made in the UK , think I have one upstairs somewhere - - plywood type construction - excellent at the time, if you had the money!!



Pathéscope Kid 9.5mm cine projector -operating side
(my example has the super-attachment fitted )


Pathéscope Kid 9.5mm cine projector - non-operating side
(the black circular item is the dropper resistance for the lamp)



Pathéscope Kid projector - 'innards' - twin claw and barrel shutter



'Pathéscope Kid' sales leaflet from 1930



The 'Kid' was also marketed in Germany - Pathex leaflet 1932?
(Pathex was the Pathé-Baby 'franchise' name in Germany)



The Pathéscope 1935 catalogue offered a 'Kid' brake arm for the 200 foot / 60 metre 'M' reels

By 1935, Pathéscope offered a brake-arm which helped to stop the new 200 foot / 60 metre 'M' reels over-running.



French Pathé Kid 9.5mm cine projector - Mk2 model with 'feuillor' lens


French Pathé-Baby 'Cinema Chez Soi' house magazine October 1932

In France a Mk2 Pathé 'Kid' cine projector was announced ready for Christmas 1932. Looks like it used up a few spare Pathé-Baby bases for the dropper resistance, instead of keeping it separate. Also advertised with a better lens. These didn't seem to arrive in the UK though.


Notes:

1. Despite the comments in the late Gerald McKee's excellent book (I think he had got the 'Kid' and 'Imp' mixed up); the 'Kid' was entirely French designed and made - just check inside the base where clearly stamped is 'Made In France'! The later 'Imp' was made in the UK and not even sold in France.

2. UK sales of the 'Kid' ceased in 1934 to be replaced by the 'Imp-roved' model made in the UK. By 1938, the little'Ace' had replaced the 'Imp' as the cheapest 9.5mm projector. At only 37/6d it was far, far cheaper than the 'Imp' had been at over £4. Accessories continued for the 'Kid' and the 'Imp' - the carry case, super-attachment and brake-arm extension set. Notched titles were no more, the new little 'Ace' did not have a notched title device.

3. Whilst the 'Kid' projector began life in France, it was also sold in other countries like Germany. The 'Kid' was still on sale in France in 1936.

4. From my notes and the D.M Neale book - the lens was 32mm focal length with an aperture of either f3.5 or f2.0 whichever you believe - I guess f3.5!!
The lens diameter is just 14mm, fitted with a small pin which engages in a slot to aid focussing. Rather too small to use other lenses!.

5. The little bakelite lens from the UK made 'Ace' will fit the 'Kid' & 'Imp' projectors just fine. (Probably the same bits of glass inside!)

6. I have new 'Kid' spring take-up belts on my sales lists! (gln Jun2018)

7. Some 'Kid' typical serial numbers:- Z - 25004 - (stamped inside the base)


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New 21Jun2018 ............. Last updated: 07 January 2020 .............. 95gearpathekid.htm .......... ©MMXV111 Grahame .L. Newnham