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REEL DEALS

PUBLISHED BY – MIKE TRICKETT 245 CHURCH ST. GEELONG WEST 3218

Cover image:
17.5 mm Pathé Rural

In 1926 the Pathé company in France launched a new
17.5 mm film size, presumably as a competitor to
16 mm, as their smaller 9.5 mm gauge had already
begun to sell rather well. The new Pathé 17.5 mm
gauge, launched as the "Rural" in France, used safety
stock with a picture size of 9 mm x 12 mm, and was
shown at the Société Français de Photographie on
10 February 1926.

Films were produced by printing in pairs on specially
perforated 35 mm safety stock by reduction from 35
mm originals. It seems in France the size was intended for use in the smaller country
district (hence 'Rural') cinemas on the Pathé circuit. Marketing in France began in
earnest in 1927, but problems with equipment and film production, together with
obtaining film distribution rights slowed business. However by 1932 Pathé were
claiming that over 2000 French cinemas were equipped with 17.5 mm.

The 17.5mm silent gauge seems to have been first mentioned in the UK in the April
1932 Pathéscope Monthly, when the French made silent projector and camera were
advertised using the name of "Rex".

Source: Graham Newman’s Web Pages http://www.pathefilm.uk/seventeen/175equip.htm

ENQUIRIES:
MIKE TRICKETT 245 CHURCH STREET GEELONG WEST VIC. 3218
PH: 0419 117 900
Email: filmman@ncable.net.au
REEL DEALS NET SITE: www.reeldeals.com.au

For subscription rates – see inside of the back cover

2 REEL DEALS March 2018