Antique early 20th century Pathé Frères Paris 80mm projection lens. This rare item would have been used to project film or photographs.
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Some age related wear.
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Could be polished. Personally I love the aged look.
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Size: 6 1/2 cm tall 4 cm round.
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Pathé Frères was a French film production and distribution company founded in 1896 by the brothers Charles, Émile, Théophile, and Jacques Pathé. It became a dominant force in the early film industry, and later expanded into other areas like phonograph records.
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Key aspects of Pathé Frères:
Founding:
The company was founded on September 28, 1896, in Paris.
Early Focus:
Initially, Pathé Frères focused on film equipment, production, and distribution, as well as phonograph records.
Dominant Force:
During the early 20th century, Pathé Frères became the largest film equipment and production company in the world.
Newsreels:
They pioneered the newsreel format, later known as Pathé News, and later British Pathé.
Global Reach:
The company had operations and distribution networks worldwide, including in the United States (Pathé Exchange) and the United Kingdom (British Pathé).
Legacy:
Pathé Frères left a significant legacy in film history, including the development of the newsreel format and the establishment of major film production and distribution networks
 
Focal Length:
80mm, indicating the distance from the lens's optical center to the image plane. This is a common focal length for portrait photography on full-frame cameras.
Markings:
"3 1/4 IN EQUI = 80%" suggests that 3 1/4 inches is equivalent to 80mm, possibly related to the image format it was designed for.
Manufacturer:
Pathé Frères, a pioneering French film company, indicating its age and historical significance.
Construction:
The lens appears to have a brass or similar metal barrel, common for vintage lenses.
Function:
Designed for projecting film, creating a focused image on a screen.