Pathe Ace projector

[greenstar]

Hi, my first post, and I am wondering if anyone has experience with this projector. Couldn't find it with a search, but the engine wouldn't include 'ace' as less than 4 letters!
I am looking at this lovely little thing for a friend. One insurmountable problem appears to be that the lower roller assembly, (which receives the film and turns it back to go up to the take up spool) is missing. From what I can make out the earliest arrangement with the Ace was that the film was received in the lower compartment, and for this the rollers were not needed.
So there seem two possibilities: use with hand crank (need to find/make one) without the rollers, or find the rollers and use with motor and upper spool (I have two).

But I do not understand how the film was originally received in the lower compartment. How was it held initially (I used masking tape), was there a spool there, and how was it returned to the upper spool (doesn't want to turn that way, and almost impossibly slow reversing film movement by hand). Also to getto the lower compartment the film appears to pass over the lower end of the plate, which seems too sharp.

Any information/thoughts much appreciated.

Tony

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[greenstar]

Hah! My first photo didn't make it .. just getting to know how this works. Added below.

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[Ken Riley]

One reason you may have had problems with your search
is that the projector is actually a Pathescope Ace made beginning
in 1935 and continued into the 1960s. Here is a great web
resource all about the Pathescope Ace projector and includes
several pictures:

www.pathefilm.freeserve.co.uk/95gearpat1ace.htm

[greenstar]

Hi Ken, this is helpful, but the problem seems to be that I am lacking the lower roller asssembly. I either need to find one, or I am wondering if the thing can be used as originally designed, with the film led in to the lower compartment. I need a diagram or photo to show how this was done. At the moment I can make it do so, but need to secure the film end on the axle with tape, and then it runs over a shape edge into the lower compartment. There must have been some other arrangement.
Tony