British Mutoscope & Biograph Co Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Mutoscope & Biograph Syndicate Ltd
- American Mutoscope & Biograph Co
- Smedley, William T
- Bio Trust
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
-
Recreation activities
Film production, distribution & exhibition
-
Precision instruments production
Photographic, cinematographic, etc, equipment production
Notes:
Traced origins to Mutoscope & Biograph Syndicate Ltd, based in Soho, London, established 1897 to make and exhibit films. Associated with American Mutoscope & Biograph Co and with them exchanged technology and films. 1899 wound up and continued by British Mutoscope & Biograph Co Ltd, a public company, with William Thomas Smedley as chairman. Produced film for both screen projection and the penny arcade mutoscope. Developed associated companies in Europe and British Empire. 1900 opened London studio. Subsequently diversified into manufacturing other equipment, eg office machinery, in order to survive. Latterly known as Bio Trust. Closed 1910s
Publications:
- A Victorian Film Enterprise. The history of the British Mutoscope & Biograph Company, 1897-1915 by Brown, Richard, & Barry Anthony
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Mutoscope & Biograph Syndicate Ltd
- American Mutoscope & Biograph Co
- Smedley, William T
- Bio Trust
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
- Recreation activities Film production, distribution & exhibition
- Precision instruments production Photographic, cinematographic, etc, equipment production
Notes:
Traced origins to Mutoscope & Biograph Syndicate Ltd, based in Soho, London, established 1897 to make and exhibit films. Associated with American Mutoscope & Biograph Co and with them exchanged technology and films. 1899 wound up and continued by British Mutoscope & Biograph Co Ltd, a public company, with William Thomas Smedley as chairman. Produced film for both screen projection and the penny arcade mutoscope. Developed associated companies in Europe and British Empire. 1900 opened London studio. Subsequently diversified into manufacturing other equipment, eg office machinery, in order to survive. Latterly known as Bio Trust. Closed 1910sPublications:
- A Victorian Film Enterprise. The history of the British Mutoscope & Biograph Company, 1897-1915 by Brown, Richard, & Barry Anthony