Robert Rigby ‘Empire’ Cinema lantern

A very large magic lantern by Robert Rigby & Sons of Hatton Garden, London, produced for commercial use in cinemas where large magic lanterns like this were still being used to project advertising stills right through until the late 1940s - long after the arrival of motion pictures. The company was located close to - and supplied - some of the biggest names in magic lanterns and cinematographs, including W Butcher & Sons, John Wrench & Sons, Newton & Co, Walter Tyler and Gaumont.

This particular projector bears the ‘Empire’ mark at two locations, and is fitted with a 10” Aldis Butcher Projection Lens. Inside is a Triumph lamp holder, though possibly non-original as many of these lanterns were fitted with carbon arc illuminants. The projector measures 89cm long (lens extended) and stands 50cm high.

Click here to see the Premier lantern, which also made by the same company, and here to see a selection of advertising stills.