Curio collection

Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector

Switzerland, 1955

About the object

An iconic Swiss-made 8mm motion picture projector engineered with watchmaker precision, offering rock-steady film advance and Hi-Fi 20mm optics.

About this object

Swiss horological cine projection with Paillard-Bolex Hi-Fi optics.

Condition

The photographed Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector shows age-consistent surface wear and preserved period details; functionality is not claimed unless separately tested.

Provenance

Sourced from the documented Curio Gallery archival catalogue: Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector.

Lens

Paillard-Bolex Hi-Fi f=20mm 1:1.3 prime lens

Film Gauge

Standard 8mm (up to 120m reels)

Drive System

Swiss synchronous electric motor with rheostat speed control

Finish

Two-tone metallic olive and polished chrome

Identity & maker

Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector by Paillard-Bolex, identified from the supplied photographs and catalogue evidence.

Documented construction

Paillard-Bolex period construction; visible finish and hardware are recorded without adding unseen components.

Key specification

Paillard-Bolex Hi-Fi f=20mm 1:1.3 prime lens

Design language

Distinctive proportions, controls, markings, and surface details visible on this individual Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector.

Collector context

Paillard-Bolex production places this piece within the documented history of Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector.

Photographic record

The included image set for Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector is the reference for identity, completeness, and condition; details not shown are not assumed.

Paillard-Bolex: a tangible chapter of the analog era.

Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector carries the material language of Switzerland manufacturing around 1955: purposeful controls, repairable construction, and a design made for use rather than disposal. Its surviving details connect today's collector with the hands that made and used it.

A one-of-one object, not a stock photograph.

Every mark and fitting shown belongs to this individual Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector. Its documented details give collectors a precise, honest connection to the people and practices that shaped Paillard-Bolex. The photographic record keeps that connection specific, personal, and grounded in the evidence presented.

1955 · Manufacture

Produced by Paillard-Bolex in Switzerland; the photographed Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector retains its period design language.

1959 · Field use

Used in optics work during the working life of Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector, with the controls and surfaces shown in the supplied photographs.

1975 · Collection history

Preserved after active service, this Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector became a reference point for collectors studying Paillard-Bolex workmanship.

2026 · Curio acquisition

Paillard Bolex M8 8mm Film Projector was photographed, condition-reviewed, and catalogued for a documented Curio Gallery acquisition.

Visible surfaces