Toronto. Movies began with small machines at penny arcades, home movie projectors and finally movie theatres. Our resident movie expert, the late Robert Gutteridge, amassed a collection of old movie cameras, projectors, etc. An author of both books and articles, Robert was a retired teacher and frequent exhibitor at our fairs.
Robert recounts how he acquired the beautiful instrument at left in an article titled, “An Encounter With Serendipity” in the early 2010 Photographic Canadiana. His story begins, “Being an avid eBayer, while seeking cinematographic equipment in mid-July of 2009, to my delight I stumbled upon an early 35mm combination moving-picture/magic lantern projector announced as “c.1895 Warwick Cinematograph Slide & Movie Projector & Case.”
“From my knowledge of early ciné? equipment, I knew immediately that not only the date was too early, but also that the machine could not be a Warwick Trading Co. (Charles Urban) “Bioscope.”
“Suspecting it to be of English origin, I investigated all well-known English cinematograph manufacturers of the early 1900s, and despite being without a name-plate, usually located on its lamp house above the side door, I determined it to be a W. Butcher & Sons Ltd. “Empire” Home Kinematograph, c.1905.”
Robert’s story continues in issue 35-4 where members can read the rest of the article – or if members joined more recently, on their DVD (covers Photographic Canadiana volumes 1 – 40). Not a member? It’s easy – follow the steps to the right, or view the MEMBERSHIP menu item above.