Biography

Haydon & Urry Ltd, was a firm of scientific engineers who produced phonographs, coin-operated machines and moving image viewers and projectors.

The company was established in the 1890s by George Haydon and Frank Urry in London. By 1897 they were producing moving image equipment such as the Erascope 3D viewer and the Eragraph film projector. They also produced the Autocosmoscope, a penny-in-slot viewer showing 'lifelike reproductions of living pictures'.

The Eragraph turned out to be a durable and reliable machine, which became popular with many travelling showmen, including one of the key moving picture presenters Randall Williams. Haydon and Urry also produced a small number of films with the brothers Richard and James Monte, such as Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee procession and Henley regatta.

In 1900 Haydon & Urry became Automatic Machines Ltd, headed by Haydon's son George, which operated until 1916.

In c1920 another associated company established by another one of George’s son, Victor emerged, The Haydon Manufacturing Company Ltd, which produced shooting games until 1948.

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