A key collection assembled by Will Day (1873-1936) during the early twentieth century, Although it was offered to the Science Museum where it had been in display Day was unsuccessful and it was finally offered for sale by tender. The collection was eventually bought by the Cinémathèque Française in 1959.

Details of the collection are placed into historical context in Laurent Mannoni's Le Mouvément continué - Catalogue illustre des appareils de la Cinématheque francaise (1996).