historique

Jean-Claude SEGUIN

Les origines et l'exploitation des appareils Edison (1894-1896)

Les Américains Franck Zeveley Maguire et Joseph Deyoe Baucus, qui se sont fait connaître aux États-Unis pour leur exploitation de kinetoscope Edison, constituent, le 12 septembre 1894, la société The Continental Commerce Company qui dispose de deux agences, l'une à Londres (70, Oxford Street) et l'autre à New York (44, Pine Street) dont l'objectif est l'exploitation du kinetoscope Edison.

Sole Sales Agents for Europe, &c. Continental Commerce Co. 70 Oxford St London W.

Agents du phonographe Edison, ils ouvrent le premier kinetoscope parlor à Londres (70, Oxford Street, 17/10/1894) et deviennent les agents officiels d'Edison pour la commercialisation du Kinetoscope en Europe.

Maguire & Baucus, Limited.
In the ELECTRICAL REVIEW for January 8, 1896, mention was made of the incorporation of Maguire & Baucus, Limited. Since then the company has elected the following officers: Joseph D. Baucus, president ; Franck Z. Maguire, vice-president and general manager; Walter B. Howe, treasurer, and William M. Paxton, Jr., secretary. Offices have been established at 44 Pine street, New York city, and Dashwood House, 9 New Broad street, London. This company has been formed chiefly for the purpose of export business in electrical apparatus, specialties etc., and has connections throughout Europe and South America. Messrs. Maguire & Baucus have marketed Mr. Edison’s latest invention, the kinetoscope, all over the world out-side of the United States, have been very successful and are well known in electrical circles.

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Electrical Review, New York, 22 janvier 1896, p. 49.

Ils se chargent également de la vente du Projecting Kinetoscope dès 1896.

La collaboration avec Charles Urban et les Lumière (1897)

Dans les premiers mois de l'année 1897, Maguire & Baucus s'associe à Charles Urban :

Charles Urban, the able manager, who opened the phonograph parlor for the Michigan Electric Company, has resigned that position and is now associated with Messrs. Maguire & Baucus, of New York City.

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The Phonoscope, vol. 1, nº 4, mars 1897, p. 9.

Peu après, la Maguire & Baucus va également signer un accord avec la maison Lumière:

The cinematographe is recognized as one of the most perfect picture projecting devices; and the inventors Messrs. Lumiere & Sons, of Lyons, France, have been particularly successful with their films, which produce a very clear, sharp, gray picture, which is very pleasing to the eye. Messrs. Maguire & Baucus have recently purchased the American stock of Lumiere & Sons, consisting of over 1500 films of various subjects, which they are offering to the trade at a liberal reduction from the standard price.

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The Phonoscope, vol 1, nº 6, mai 1897, p. 9.

The Phonoscoope, vol. I, nº 4, mars 1897, p. 4.	The Phonoscoope, vol. I, nº 6, mai 1897, p. 4.

Les dernières années (1898-1900)

Du 22 au 30 avril 1898, la Maguire & Baucus Ld a ouvert un stand à l'occasion de la National Photographic & Albert Trades Exhibition qui se tient aux Portman Rooms, Baker Street.

Maguire and Baucus. Londres.(22-30 avril 1898)
Source: National Museum of Photography, Film & Television
Reproduit dans : John Barnes, The Cinema in England 1894-1901, vol., 3. 1898, Exeter, University of Exeter Press, 1988 [1996], p. 139 et Colin Harding and Simon Popple, In the Kingdom of Shadows, Londres, Cygnus Art, 1996, p. 15.

En mars 1899, on trouve encore des publicités de Maguire & Baucus.

Bulletin fo Bureau of the American Republics, vol. VI, nº 66, mars 1899, p. XXVs

Maguire and Baucus va continuer à exister, mais va réorienter ses activités.

The Electrical Review Supplement, 29 juin 1900, p. XVIII.