Plate

no idea on this -- i only know american models.

Couldn't find any good doc's on the Projector but the location where it was built is now a nightclub.

http://www.timeout.com...iftless_shuffle.html

For some reason a google search of "Kalee Model 18" turns up a whole plethora of websites completely unrelated to projectors.

What I was able to find is the manual for the three projector models that followed this #18.
http://www.film-tech.c...manuals/GK192021.pdf

It was manufactured by a British Subsidary of a French company called Gaumont, which still operates today as a production company for independant french films.

That is the redlight district. What an odd place to run such a business. It shows how times change places.

The Freedom Bar you linked to is actually THE gay bar in London.

"Yet another subsidiary of Gaumont British was G.B-Kalee
Ltd which among other activities marketed general cinema supplies. In 1947
British Optical & Precision EngineersLtd was formed as a public company, and
was subsequently re-named Rank Precision Industries Ltd. It acquired the
businesses of British Acoustic Films Ltd and G.B-Kalee Ltd "
http://www.competition.../fulltext/054c02.pdf

"Gaumont-Kalee Equipment chosen for London Premiere. British premiere of Michael Todd's mammoth film "Around the World in 80 Days", at the Astoria, Charing Cross Road, London, on Tuesday last week, was in a new system of presentation, called Cinestage, which has been evolved by technical experts in co-operation with Mr. Todd and, in addition to the installation of special projection equipment, involved one of the most comprehensive sound installations ever built in Great Britain"
http://www.in70mm.com/...estage/cinestage.htm

It goes from Technology to Techno in just one area.

I just find it odd, that's the distribution name "Kalee" is my name which is Scottish Gaelic.

No surprise Film and the 'red light' have always held hands.
But the projector mec shown was used around the world and was licensed to / copied by most of the projector makers around as it was easy to lace up!. The '21' type is still in use at a lot of the restored theaters and even in the imperial war museum

The GK18 projector mechanism was made by the Kershaw Company in Leeds and was an improved version of the GK40, a machine that was produced for the Indian market during WW2 years at low cost and in a cheap crinckle/crackle finish. First used for gun training, it was not sold in the UK for use in cinemas, but used in mental hospitals by the newly formed NHS. With financial constraints, the installations consisted of only one machine with a second added in later years.
The reliability of the machine led the Rank Organisation to issue a low cost assembly designated as the GK18, the mechanism being a GK40 with improved gate and the whole finished in a mid stone hammer paint.

Recently done some research on Asylums and read a lot about Denbigh great to see some photos

now that is rare in the uk,to see MADE IN ENGLAND stamped on our goods!!

i have 4 kalee projectors gk18 35mm complet my email: gobross@hotmail.com