Grahame N's Web Pages

9,5mm BOOKS and PERIODICALS

See near bottom of page for details of the giant Maurice Trace guide to UK 9.5mm sound films!

The 9,5mm home movie gauge was most popular in the UK and France. Probably because in the 1930's (the boom time for 9,5mm) we had more disposable income here in the UK, 9,5mm sales were probably highest in this country. Certainly it would appear so from the volume of 9,5mm films and equipment turning up today. Because of this, most books written about 9,5mm, in the past and today, have been published in the UK, with a few in France.

I have listed most of the publications I have in my possession, naturally most are out of print, but sometimes turn up at 9,5mm Film Fairs & Get-Togethers or at specialist film dealers. Book search services are another good starting point. Where a book is probably still in print I have detailed the source (many contempory publications are privately published because demand is hardly likely to put such things on a commercial best-seller list!). Unless stated otherwise all items listed were/are published in the UK.

I hope to include more articles about 9,5mm and the Pathe & Pathescope companies on this web-site in the near future - many (written by yours truly) have previously been published in an earlier form in the UK 9,5mm club Group 9.5's quarterly magazine, membership is recommended!

VINTAGE 9,5 BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS

"Motion Pictures With the Baby Cine" - Harold B. Abbott. Published by - The Amateur Photographer. (There were three editions of this interesting little book, each contains different information on 9,5mm equipment then currently available. (undated but 1st edition possibly 1927, 2nd approx. 1929, 3rd approx. 1934)

"The Complete 9.5mm Cinematographer" - Harold B. Abbott. Published - by The Amateur Photgrapher. (undated probably about 1937 - no mention of 9.5mm sound which arrived in the UK in 1938). A green hard-back follow-up to the above "Motion Pictures With the Baby Cine" book containing much of the same information, but with formulae for home processing (black & white) and details of later 9.5mm equipment.

"How To Use 9.5" - D.M. Neale. Published by - Focal Press. (First published 1951, second edition 1955). Contains much information about cameras, projectors, filming, titling, editing etc. with details of then current 9.5mm apparatus & filmstock. There is a section on 9.5mm sound and an ingenious way of producing colour results using black & white filmstock (recently recreated by John Cunningham in the UK, and demonstrated at the 9.5 Wimbourne Mini-Festival & Group 9.5 Chiswick Get-Together). This book was also published in a French edition at about the same time - most information is similar but translated to the French.

"La Pratique du 9,5mm" - N. Bau. Published in France by - Publications Paul Montel. (1st edition undated, probably 1950/51, 2nd edition 1958). Like the UK published "How To Use 9.5" these editions contain information about filming, editing and showing 9.5mm. They also contain information and photos of the then current 9.5mm equipment available in France - different in each edition. (Written in French of course!).

"Pathéscope Monthly" - house magazine of the UK Pathescope company. Published from September 1929 through to May 1955 when it was renamed "The Pathéscope Gazette" till it's last issue dated April/May 1959. Only odd issues during the war years up to March 1941, then Pathéscope News Sheets May 1949 - September 1949 with "Pathéscope Monthly" restarting in November 1949. Useful source of information for all 9.5mm Pathéscope film and equipment releases - providing acurate date information, plus often photos and full resumés of each film.

"Le Cinéma Chez Soi" (The Cinema In Your Home) - house magazine of the Pathé-Frères 9.5mm company in France - published 9 times a year from the beginning of 1926 through to 1939 (one edition in 1940). Like it's UK equivalent, the magazine contains release details (and descriptions) of all French Pathé-Frères 9.5mm film releases and announcements of 9.5mm Pathé cameras, projectors etc. In 1952 a quarterly magazine appeared "Pathé Cine Review" finally replaced by a commercial newstand "Cinéma Chez Soi" which still contained a single page of Pathé 9.5mm film releases, plus other advertisements for Pathé 9.5mm cine equipment.

In addition both Pathé-Frères (after 1950 S.C.I. Pathé) and Pathéscope Ltd (Pathéscope (Great Britain) Ltd after 1957) published regular descriptive and illustrated 9.5mm film catalogues, together with equipment catalogues and various trade flyers. Naturally these are very useful for identifying and dating 9.5mm collectables.

9,5 BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS - published after 1970

"The Amateur Cinema" - Val Randall. Published - 1977 by the author. Historical look at the amateur film movement in the UK. Interesting section on 9.5mm with various illustrations and reminiscences.

"The Complete UK 9.5mm Sound Film Catalogue" - Maurice Trace. Published - 1970 by the author. Contains details of every 9.5mm optical sound film issued in the UK by Pathescope Ltd. Full details of date, cast, plot synopsis etc. (Dec 2007 - this edition is now out of print - sadly Cecil Cramp died in 2006 - but see the next entry!).

WOW! A brand new giant updated version of the Maurice Trace 9.5mm sound film catalogue was completed in 2001. A labour of love by Maurice, the new catalogue contains everything and anything you wanted to know about every 9.5mm optical sound film released (and almost released) in the UK. Price including postage is £15 direct from Maurice. Send UK cheque for £15, payable M. Trace to:
Maurice Trace, 58 Buttermere Drive, Onchan, Isle of Man, IM3 2EA
or if you are overseas e-mail Maurice to check the total cost: mtrace@talk21.com

"The Complete French 9.5mm Optical Sound Film Catalogue" - Grahame Newnham. Published by the author. Contains full details (in English!) of all the French 9.5mm optical sound films issued by the French Pathe-Freres company. Plus full reviews of a few of the films and the original title of non French films. (They issued a 9 reel version of the 1933 "King Kong" on 9.5mm in France - hear Fay Wray scream in French!) Currently out of print, but I may be persuaded to run a few more off! Price was £5 (post paid) in the UK.

"Film Collecting" - Gerald McKee. Published - 1978, by The Tantivy Press. ISBN 0-498-01918-7
Written when film collecting (on Super 8) was at its heyday in the UK. Gerald however takes a look at film collecting on all gauges with a great deal about 9.5mm and Pathescope (Gerald is a knowledgeable 9.5mm enthusiast and historian).

"The Home Cinema : Classic Home Movie Projectors 1922-1940" - Gerald McKee. Published - 1989, by the author. ISBN 0-9515905-0-2 (Limited print run of 350 copies) Whilst this A4 size softcover book covers all gauges, 9.5mm and Pathéscope get a huge amount of attention. The 9.5mm Pathé-Baby (later Home Movie) is fully detailed with illustrations and details of all the models and accessories. Now out-of-print. Gerald McKee had another book in preparation which was to cover cine projectors from 1940 up to but not including the plastic Super 8mm era. Sadly Gerald McKee died early in 2007 - currently the manuscripts for this new book have not been located - maybe if they can be found there may still be a chance it may be published. updated December 2007

"A Half Century of Film Collecting" - Gerald McKee. Published - 1993 by the author. ISBN 0-9515905-1-0 (First edition print run of 300 copies). Another A4 size softcover book - a sequel to "Film Collecting" mentioned above, and very strong on 9.5mm. Including reviews of many 9.5mm optical sound releases (many of which don't exist elsewhere today!). There is a superb chapter on the history of Pathescope and 9.5mm printed films in the UK! (Now out of print - all my copies are sold - sorry!))

"Pathé Premier Empire Du Cinema" - Jacques Kermabon and film enthusiasts. ISBN 2-85850-793-7. Published in France - 1994 by Centre Georges Pompidou to co-incide with a large Pathé exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the Pathé-Frères company. A superb book, hard back with heavy gloss pages. Contains a wealth of knowledge and pictures of all aspects of the Pathé empire. Naturally there is quite a bit about the amateur film side of Pathé - 28mm, 17.5mm and 9.5mm plus lovely photos of the equipment. The book wasn't cheap (approx 400Fr F. which at that time was about £45). Sadly the book, although reprinted, is now out of print. Worth searching for though! (Remember it's written entirely in French!).

"Catalogue General des Editions de Films de Format 9,5mm en Lanque Francais de 1922 a 1986" ("9.5mm French Film Catalogue 1922-1926" - French is so long-winded!) - Francois Poisson. Published in France - 1997 by Editions Cinematheque de Bretagne. (100 copies printed). Complete (well not quite!) listing of 9.5mm French film releases. Details include title, length, company and date of release. Unfortunately many titles are duplicated because it includes film library lists and some film library reference numbers have been assumed to be original. However there are lots of good film frame illustrations. (French language). Probably out of print by now.

"The Complete Pathescope UK 9.5mm Silent Film Catalogue" - Geoff Newman. Published by the author. Original catalogue lists all 9.5mm films by title and length. A first supplement concentrates on comedy and drama films of 200ft and over. Includes illustrations and film descriptions. Supplement Two available now, catalogues documentaries, advertising films and Pathe Gazettes. Each catalogue (three in total) costs £6 plus 80p postage in the UK. Send sterling cheque or postal order (payable G.C.F. Newman) to Geoff Newman, 4 Andrew Close, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3PA. (Sadly Geoff Newman died early in 2007 - currently these catalogues are no longer available).

"A Handbook of 9.5mm Cinematography" by Douglas Macintosh Published in Autumn 2000, this is the first book about filming on our pioneer gauge for many years. Contains much advice for those wanting to try 9.5mm for the first time and even for the more experienced user. Many useful addresses are included. Unfortunately the first edition suffered from a number of errors and omissions particularly relating to 9.5mm history & equipment. No doubt the second edition (published 2007) will be improved! Available from:- Photoworld, 7a Victoria Street, Craig-y-don, Llandudno, LL30 1LQ, UK .. Price:- £9.99 including UK postage Tel: 01492 871818 (Overseas: ++1492 871818 )

Don't forget the French 9.5mm club produce an excellent glossy A4 quarterly magazine. Full details are elsewhere:- FRENCH 9.5 CLUB .

Don't forget our own Group 9.5 quarterly magazine, a mine of information about 9.5mm (the back numbers are also really interesting!), and only £10 a year for full membership in the UK! The full details are below and elsewhere:- GROUP 9.5 or check out the Pathescope section of: THE VINTAGE FILM PAGE (Remember to use BACK to return to this site!). Back numbers arre available from Grahame Newnham, 22 Warren Place, Calmore, Southampton, SO40 2SD, send a stamp to me for a full list and / or a free sample copy of the magazine! UK Group 9.5 membership is £12 for the first year (free badge). then £10 per year. Send a cheque / postal order, payable Group 9.5, with a stamped addressed envelope to Ken Valentine, Hon Sec Group 9.5, Stables Lodge, 111 Elstree Road, Bushey, Herts, WD23 4EG. (The illustration shows the latest Buckingham Elf 9,5mm projector conversion, this model, the Classic is a silent only machine at just under £500, the optical sound version is around £795 and an optical & magnetic playback model is just under £1000. Contact Buckingham Film Services, 43 Broomfield, Stacey Bushes, Milton Keynes, MK12 6HA (Tel: 01908 315110) for full details.) - updated October 2007

Return to: NINE-FIVE MENU or return to: MAIN MENU

Last updated 15 December 2007 .............. 95books.htm ..........© G.L. Newnham 2000