Projected Picture Trust

The wanton destruction of projectors and other related professional film equipment prompted in 1978, a few like minded preservationists to form The Projected Picture Trust. The proposals were not only to locate the equipment being destroyed, but to renovate, preserve and exhibit it for the enjoyment of the public at large. In other words, these people wanted to preserve the magic of cinema. In addition to our museum at Bletchley Park, we have a strong presence at regional centres. The Trust is involved at the Wirral Museum, Birkenhead; the Curzon Collection at the Curzon Community Cinema, Clevedon; and the Astra Cinema at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Regional co-ordinators throughout the UK hold regular meetings to ensure the continuity of information to all members. Ireland and EU countries are covered by our co-ordinator in Ireland and international countries are covered by our co-ordinator in Canada. The Trust has an archive with a data bank of around 3,000 records covering everything from instruction manuals, drawings of projectors, lamphouses, amplifiers and installations to sales leaflets, newspaper clippings and photographs. The archive holds a number of video cassettes of PPT related television broadcasts. As a voluntary organisation we rely on contributions from generous members and companies. The PPT exists to “To locate, preserve, renovate and exhibit the equipment and data, past and present, of still and moving images”.