Since we moved to Epsom my interests in photography meant I got to know the local camera shop very well. It was run by Matt Skipp who had also been to Glyn Grammar School

Before long I was working with him as his 'Saturday boy'. Matt was very keen to make 8mm cine films with synchronised sound and formed the 'Nonsuch Film Group'

Tape recorders were necessary and Matt became the only specialist tape recorder shop in the area. A friend,Des Roe modified a Philips cassette recorder to have a second recording track and a variable speed control.

The cine camera was modified with a contact to close when each frame was taken. The pulse fed from the camera was recorded on the control track of  the Philips recorder for every frame taken.  The sound track from the cassette recorder was transferred to perforated 1/4" magnetic tape. Now the clever part. - the perforated tape also ran around tape guide with a neon lamp inside. The pulses from the control track on the cassette tape made the neon flash. The speed of the cassette recorder was adjusted  so the perforations on the tape 'stood still' as the transfer was made.

We now had the sound track on tape that was exactly synchronised with the film.

Using a sound projector the track could then be copied to a magnetic stripe on the film. This was done with the tape running over a sprocket wheel on the projector which controlled the projector speed to keep it in step.

It was a long laborous proceedure but produced perfect 'lip synch' if all went well.

Editing was possible as equal numbers of sprocket holes on the film matched an equal number of holes on the tape.

Remember this was in the days before video cameras existed and it was a workable solution.

Many hundreds of systems were sold before video cameras came in and took over the market