This unusual colour wheel is marked for noted British projection equipment producers Kalee (later Gaumont-Kalee) and dates to the 1910s -1920s. It represents an interesting and early stage in the long development of colour cinema with the colour wheel technique originally emerging towards the end of the 19th Century. Although other techniques such as Kinemacolor, Biocolour and hand-tinting the frames appeared, the colour wheel was possibly the simplest.
This Kalee example would have been created for professional cinema use with its solid steel tube base. The three primary colours are encased in a painted ply circle and were rotated right in front of the projection lens using the hand crank. Although a simple and effective enough technique, the wheel needs to be turned at a consistent regulated speed and one can imagine some poor projectionist’s assistant standing there trying to maintain that steady speed and rhythm for the audience.
The wooden wheel of this rare device is possibly a later replacement as the colours appear to be acetate rather than glass, but the rest of the machine is offered in very original untouched condition. This would be good for display or demonstration use.
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