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Pathè  9.5mm  sound  films  are  well  known  to  collectors
                                   and when in good condition can command a high price.
                                   What  is  equally  well  known  is  that  the  “quality  control”
                                   officer at Pathè was frequently absent from the job. With
                                   these  films  now  quite rare, it  is frustrating to  find big
                                   variations in both image quality and sound quality.

                                   The image at left, an enlargement from one of my Betty
                                   Boop sound films is a typical example. Note the lack of
                                   dark  bars  in  the  variable  density  sound  track.  The
                                   lightness of the sound track results in poor sound level,
                                   and  a  higher  degree  of  noise.  (Poor  signal  to  noise
                                   ratio). Note also the almost square image.












      Pathè  released  their  sound
      films  with  both  density  and
      variable   area    tracks.
      Unfortunately,  many  of  the
      VA    tracks   were   often
      produced  with  the  dark  area
      gray  instead  of  black  which
      would  have  made  for  better
      sound levels.

      Although  the  Pathè  VOX
      went  into  production  in  1937
      in  France,  World  War  2
      intervened  and  production  of
      these  machines  ceased  in
      1940.   They   were   not
      manufactured after the war.


      References:
      The Home Cinema by
      Gerald McKee



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