Printing machine used by Robert Paul

Film printing machine, manufactured and used by Robert Paul, 1896

Robert Paul was already a successful instrument maker when he entered the film industry in 1894 making replica Edison Kinetoscopes. He then entered into a partnership with Birt Acres produced a camera and several films including Rough Sea at Dover and The 1895 Derby. After acrimoniously parting wtih Acres, he developed his own projector, the Theatrograph in 1896, becoming a direct competitor to the Lumiere Brothers in early London film screenings.

He went on to develop further film making equipment including cameras, projectors and printers. He established a film studio in Muswell Hill where more elaborate 'trick' films were able to be made. Hugely sucessful for over a decade, Paul then left the film business in 1910, destroying his negatives and instead concentrated on scientific instrument making for the remainder of his career.