A metal-cased filoscope with printed kinetic photographic subject titled The Derby 1896 with title sheet, information sheet and picture sheets numbered 3-187.

HENRY W. SHORT The following ten lots have been consigned by a descendant of the inventor of the filoscope, Henry W. Short. The filoscope was the subject of British Patent no. 23,158 of 3 November 1898 for 'Improvements in Kinetoscopic Apparatus' and according to Barnes at least twelve different subjects were available. Barnes believes that Short holds a special place in English film history because he acted as catalyst between various pioneers (notably R. W. Paul and Birt Acres) which lead to the beginnings of cinematographic invention in Britain. In terms of the filoscope Short was very closely associated with R. W. Paul, the pioneer film maker, and made use of some of his early film negatives as subjects for the filoscope. Short also acted as cameraman for Paul on occasion. Hitherto, biographical detail about Short has been unavailable. Henry ('Harry') W. Short was the only child of Thomas Watling Short and Caroline Elizabeth Short (née Hardie) of Ganwick, Wagon Road, Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire. Thomas Short (1833-1906) was a partner in the firm of Marriott and Short, later Short and Mason, scientific instrument makers of Hatton Garden, London. H. W. Short is believed to have died in the early 1920s and is buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard at Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

Details

A metal-cased filoscope with printed kinetic photographic subject titled The Derby 1896 with title sheet, information sheet and picture sheets numbered 3-187.

Literature

Barnes, John. (1976), The Beginnings of the Cinema in England, p. 110-112, p. 209.

Further details

See illustration

Lot Essay

The Derby was photographed by R. W. Paul on 3 June 1896. Two cinematographic prints was produced showing the finish of the race and the crowds rushing on to the race course. The former is the subject of this filoscope.

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