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) |