The Curzon Community Cinema, est. 1912
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
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Curzon Collection: 35 mm Cinchro


CINCHRO SILENT PROJECTOR Serial No. 170
Manufactured by Cinechrome Instruments Company Ltd. London.

The origin of this silent 35mm projector is not known. It was manufactured by Cinechrome Instrument Co. Ltd. of London and thought to be produced around 1916. It could have been produced as a Bioscope machine but equally it could have been a ‘home movie’ projector.

A hand-turned projector it is also motorised there being a facility for that in the mechanism. It has a three-blade front shutter and a very simple mechanism. Because it has a motorised facility built in it pre-supposes that with also having 1000ft. spool boxes it was designed to be able to project the longer films of the day, thus the date we have given.

When received only the head and spool boxes were donated. A made up lamphouse has been constructed of a size to blend with the projector’s lines and it has been mounted on a Debrie 16mm stand.

The age of this projector is as obscure as is its pedigree. Gifted to the Curzon Collection by a Clevedon resident he said that it was in the loft of his house in London and was found when he moved to the South West. Extensive research has failed to bring forward and information about this projector or the manufacturer. It is either a very expensive 'toy' or 'home movie' machine produced for personal use or it is a genuine projector which could have been used in the early part of the 20th. Century for commercial film shows, bioscopes etc. As at least 170 of them were produced there must have been a market for them. Whatever its pedigree it is a very interesting projector.

It has both top and lower spool boxes which suggests it was made to specifications demanded by legislation in the days of Bioscopes because of fire risk.

The projector can be hand turned. As to whether this was it's purpose is not clear as there is also a pulley for motor drive. In this case the handle may have been for lacing and running down only. It is not possible to mechanically drive the projector however as the drive from the gearbox to the lower spool box is missing and there does not appear to be any governing device for constant film speed. However one can still hand-turn a film.

The light source seen is not part of the projector. It is an old Episcope which is being modified to provide a lamp with which it is planned to get the projector working again as a hand-turned facility The original light source could be almost anything.

If anyone recognises this projector and has knowledge of the manufacturer please contact Maurice Thornton, Collection Administrator, details below.

Donated to the Collection by Richard Boombier of Clevedon.


The picture head and film gate are of the most simple of design but well engineered. The hand turning is quiet and smooth and can obviously be used in that form. Interesting is the three-bladed front shutter - typical of a projector of the early cinema age. A light trap and framer can be seen immediately below the gate and the film path is clearly visible.