Pathe film identification

 

The words ‘Pathe Cinema France’ or ‘Pathe Cinema Paris’ are followed by a 4-digit number and then by one or two smaller groups of numbers.

For the first 2 digits of the 4-digit number:

 

16 = 1921 23 = 1923 30 = 1926
17 = 1921 24 = 1923 31 = 1926
18 = 1922 25 = 1923 32 = 1927
19 = 1922 26 = 1924 33 = 1927
20 = 1922 27 = 1924 34 = 1927
21 = 1922 28 = 1925 35 = 1927
22 = 1923 29 = 1925 36 = 1927

 

 

The above numbers are applicable only to positives. The numbers on Pathe negatives follow a different series which we have not so far related to date. It may be noted that this series of marks terminates at 1927; the year in which the raw stock manufacturing facilities of Pathe were acquired by Kodak. Thereafter the name Pathe still appeared on the film but not the same number series. Some of their marks are read from the emulsion side of the film, and some from the base.

For older Pathe stock you may make the following observations in the film margins:

 

1905 Pathe Freres Paris (in both margins)
up to 1909 Pathe Freres Paris (in one margin and), 14 Rue Favart Paris (on the other margin)
also 1909 Exhibition Interdite En France En Suisse En Belgique
suspected 1911 -1914 Property of Pathe Exchange Inc. Not To Be Sold (in one margin)