The projector and accessories were given to Mr and Mrs Stafford in about 1946 by Thomas Nichol soon after their marriage on the condition that it be used for church film nights as well as personal family use, which was until about 1970. Over this time Mr Stafford added to the collection of accessories.

Thomas Nichol gave the projector to Mr I Stafford in about 1946.

Movie projector with cover and accessories, Model 601, metal/plastic/glass/canvas, Bell & Howell-Gaumont, England, 1940-1946.

The movie projector has a dark brown/green paper covered wood casing with a leather carry handle on top and four chrome metal corners at the bottom. To one side there is a two large hinged panels, one swings open and the other drops down to reveal the projector. The larger panel is secured during storage by a metal twist lock mechanism, while the drop panel clicks shut, both have small leather tabs as handles. The metal projector has various sprockets and rollers that feed the film through the projector, dials and switches that control volume, tone, lamps, direction of film and sound. The metal lens is positioned directly behind a small hinged panel in the front of the casing. Also at the front is a chrome knob that turns and adjusts the angle of the projector by raising or lowering adjustable feet attached to bottom of casing. At the back of the casing there is a vent with a metal grill to keep the projector cool. On the other side of the casing are various sockets, one large one for power inlet and two smaller ones for the speaker and amplifier, there is also a fuse socket.

The interior of the casing is lined with maroon felt. On the inside of the hinged side panel there are a number of accessories attached by leather straps. There is a small chrome plated metal oil can, a metal and bristle apeture cleaning brush, two spare fuses wrapped in half an envelope and a spare globe wrapped in tissue. Attached around two discs is a spare belt made of a tight metal spring. The take up spool arm is stored on this panel as well, it has a grey painted metal arm with a take up pulley system made of metal with a thick woven fabric belt attached to the top.
Stored in the interior of the casing with the projector is the feed spool arm that has a grey painted metal arm with a metal spool holder and pulley mechanism attached to top. The two spool arms attach to the projector by way of mounting screws, one at the rear of the casing and the other on top towards the front.

Also stored inside the casing is a purple cloth covered power cord with a black rubber two prong plug at one end and two black metal four prong sockets at the other.

The cover for the projector is made of dark tan canvas with a zipper fastening at the top, there is a hole in the canvas at the top so the handle of the projector can be held through the cover.

Made: Bell & Howell-Gaumont; England; 1940 - 1946


Used: Stafford, I A; Sydney

Owned: Nichol, Thomas Bruce; Sydney

Makers plate on side of casing: BELL & HOWELL-GAUMONT/Model 601/MADE IN ENGLAND.

93/335/1

1940 - 1946