By 1912, when Pathé Kok was introduced, the Pathé Frerès company was an entertainment colossus, dominating the record market in France as well as the European market for cinema equipment, production and exhibition. Pathé Kok was Pathé's entry into home cinema. The gauge was 28 mm, which allowed a safer film base of cellulose diacetate. The smaller frames also made films less expensive: a 400 ft reel gave a movie length of up to eight minutes (35 mm film required 500 ft.)

The film is pulled down through the gate with an intermittent claw mechanism. Having only one perforation per frame on one side ensures that the frames are lined up properly with the gate and with the correct orientation when the film is threaded.