The Reel Edison

Caitlin Rother’s story, “The Reel Thing at Paris Film Museum,” Nov. 8, mentions an Edison Kinetoscope being on display. Edison introduced these viewers for 35mm film--the first ever--in 1894. In 1895 he brought out a version called the Kinetophone, which had a primitive phonograph with ear tubes, so that a viewer could listen to background music while watching a film.

The machine Rother describes was a Kinetoscope converted in 1895 to a Kinetophone. In later years, the phonograph was removed. Just a month ago today, and shortly after Rother’s visit, I spent two days at the Cinematheque restoring this same machine! I replaced the missing phonograph, along with its belts, pulleys and ear tubes, as well as the missing Edison electric motor which had originally operated it. Their Kinetophone is one of only three left in the entire world, the most complete, and the only one on exhibition.

A.R. PHILLIPS, JR.

Studio City