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The Pathé Baby from above –
showing the notch title mechanism.

high power machine. The small lamp and
modest condenser system did not hit the Two other projectors were produced which
film with much heat, so it could be left would stop when a notched title was
stationary for long periods without damage. encountered – but both required the
operator to re-engage the mechanism
manually.

These were the KID and the IMP – both
were little more that toys, with enclosed film

paths and no supply or take up sprockets –
arguably the cause of much film damage
and in many cases banned from film
libraries.
All of the films were printed down from
Pathé’s 35mm cinema releases; the quality
In the 1930s Pathé introduced a number of was generally very good, with sharp steady
other projectors – the Lux (see cover) was images. Notched films offer some
the only additional machine they produced
which had automatic de clutching and re- interesting viewing, many of the films depict
engaging for notched titles. This machine life as it was in the first 20 years of the last
was motorized and incorporated an 80 volt century, and many were never re-released
40 watt lamp. When the machine stopped to with running titles or on other formats.
show a single frame, a heat absorbing
gauze shutter dropped into the light path
and although the image became duller, the
film was safe from overheating.