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Les origines (1876-1900)

Fils d'Henry, James Stow, qui exerce la profession de "commercial clerk", Percival Stow réside avec sa famille, en 1881, à Islington. Il y habite toujours dix ans plus tard, lors du recensement de 1891.

Les images animées (1901-)

La Hepworth Film Mfg. Co. 

MR. H. V. LAWLEY
has during the last four and a-half years bestowed his entire attention to the practical branches of the business, and will personally superintend the printing and development of the Films, and he is also pleased to announce that he has secured the valuable services of
MR. P. E. STOW
who was connected with the late firm for the past four years, and whose work is so well known.

Professionals and the Trade may rely upon the photographic excellence of the New Series of Films, which will be remarkable for their steadiness and entire freedom from blemishes.

A Magnificent Open-air Stage has been erected, and a comprehensive selection of Films is in course of preparation.

The New Films will be know as the CLARENDON SERIES.

The Era, Saturday 14 may 1904, p. 31.

L'année 1907 est marquée par le décès accidentel d'un Allemand à l'occasion du tournage d'un film de la Clarendon Film Company et au cours duquel un accident va se produire provoquant le décès de l'un des acteurs du film

The first witness was the dead man's wife, Emma Zeitz. Her husband, she said, was a cycle maker, but on Wednesday he was specially engaged by the Clarendon Film Company for the purpose of the picture. [...]
"Mr. Stow, of the Film Company," continued the witness, "told me that the work would not endanger my husband's life. My husband acted as a railwayman with a hammer. He was supposed to see if the line was in order. Three men brought two big planks and put them across the line a good distance away.London Daily Chronicle, Londres, mardi 23 avril 1907, p. 7.

LEGAL NOTICES.
[...]
The partnership between Henry Vassar Lawley and Percival Edwin Stow, cinematographers, of Clarendon Road, Croydon, Surrey, trading as The Clarendon Film Company, has been dissolved by mutual consent. All debts will be received or paid by P. E. Stow.

---

The British Journal of Photography, 27 mars 1908, p. 257.

Voir l'article: Mr. P. E. Stow and the Clarendon Film Co.

How is it Done ?
Quite a sensation has been caused, not only among the trade but the general public, by " Juggins' Motor Skates," which emanated from the Clarendon Co. last week. The extraordinary adventures are so realistic that even members of the trade, who are up to all manner of "tricks," are not quite certain of the methods that have been adopted to obtain such bewildering results. The daily press has paragraphed the subject, so as to make it worthy of our showmen's serious attention. We find that the pictures were taken in the district of Croydon at the suggestion of Mr. P. E. Stow, and that great interest was evinced in Juggins whilst going through his evolutions. In this subject showmen will find something quite out of the ordinary and something which every audience will want to see again, inasmuch as their one desire will be to solve the mystery as to how the film was obtained. Kinematograph Weekly, jeudi 24 juin 1909, p. 311.

WHILE on this point (and I do not wish to labour it), I should like to refer to a letter I received from Mr. P. E. Stow, of the Clarendon Film Co., recently. He says: "We note that 'Stroller' remarks upon the fact that buyers are not influenced so much by the quality of the subject as by other considerations, and that the unfortunate showman, being dependent for the quality of his subjects upon the buyer, is the real sufferer. On account of our strict adherence to the non-cutting policy we ourselves have suffered to a large extent in this country, and you will observe that in our advertisement we provide so far as possible against a continuance of this state of affairs by inviting the showman to apply direct in case he is unable to secure our subjects. The real cause of the trouble is, it seems, due to the undertaking on the part of several of the largest hiring concerns to purchase a fixed quantity of American goods for a certain period and this they continue to do to the detriment of the exhibitor. It is safe to say that not more than fifteen per cent. of American goods thus purchased would obtain a sale on their merits." Kinematograph Weekly, jeudi 24 juin 1909, p. 303

Et après... (-1919)

En 1911, Percival E. Stow est recensé, à Finchley, chez son frère Herbert. À cette époque, il déploie une activité d'inventeur et dépose plusieurs brevets dont: " Apparatus for use in connection with the preparation and joining of lengths of kinematograph film together." (Nº 20,015-8 septembre 1911); "Method of and means for producing coloured kinematograph films, applicable also to photography and other purposes. (nº 28,003. 5 décembre 1912) en collaboration avec Harry Martin Sharp au nom de la Clarendon Film Co.; "Means for enabling the human voice or other sound or action to be synchronized with moving pictures (nº 20,975. 19 septembre 1913) en collaboration avec Harry, Martin, Valentine Sharp au nom de la Clarendon Film Co; "Improvements connected with kinematography applicable also to other purposes" (nº 22.918. 10 octobre 1913).

En 1913, il est inscrit sur les listes électorales de Croydon.

Il décède à Torquay en juillet 1919:

TORQUAY
Mr. Percival Edwin Stow, Westleigh, Ashbill-road, Torquay, left £17,135.

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Western Times, Londres, vendredi 12 décembre 1919, p. 8.

Sources

"Cinematograph Tragedy", Music Hall and Theatre Review, vendredi 26 avril 1907, p. 272.

"Jest to Tragedy", Croydon Express, samedi 27 avril 1907, p. 3.

"Mr. P. E. Stow and the Clarendon Film Co.", Kinematograph Weekly, jeudi 15 octobre 1908, p. 539.

P. E. STOW, "The Problem of Film Selection", The Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly, 28 octobre 1909, p. 1253.

P. E. STOW, "The Comic of the Future", The Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly, 29 juin 1911, p. 345.