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The DeVry projector stayed in
the studio for a while longer
during which time I investi-
gated it more closely, at the
same time re-tensioning the
leather drive belt to the take-
up reel. After one more show-
ing to another bemused visit-
ing photographer, John
Shingler took the suitcase
home where it sat for 32 years
all but forgotten. (Pic 5.) Now
the exquisite DeVry mecha-
nism was exposed to fate!
(Pic. 6.)
Pic. 5. A slightly later (maybe
1925?) Model C in superb con-
dition showing coaxial reels.
All these machines are white
asbestos lined!

Around 1996, I had a surprise
visit from John, now long re-
tired, and he was
carrying….the DeVry Suit-
case Projector! He explained
that he and his wife were
moving house and in doing so
had unearthed the projector
from the bottom of a ward-
Pic. 6. The compact DeVry transport mechanism is a mas- robe. He confessed it was un-
terpiece of precision engineering giving rock-steady projec- fortunately in a bit of a mess
tion. The motor drives the pulley via a belt. as he had left the decaying
Nitrate stock film inside, but
added ‘Would you like to have it?’ Considerable surface rust was evident, and there was
a sickly sweet aroma emanating from it. I thought how lucky they were it hadn’t
self-combusted in their bedroom! The old film was extracted, now well decomposed,
virtually gun cotton, and before disposing of it I managed to salvage 2 or 3 title frames
that showed the Ford logo. These I had reversed and printed to 4 × 3 prints as a
memento. The sticky film remains made a nice little bonfire for a couple of minutes!

These small 35 mm portable motion picture projectors are one of the few types made
for that format (reason explained further on) and were the brainchild of Herman DeVry,
a German-born American who saw the need for easily transportable full size 35 mm
projection equipment not tied down to a theatre. (Pic. 7)

22 REEL DEALS March 2018