Home Contents 9.5 16 Multi-gauge 17.5 28 Pix Miscellany
THE EDISON 22MM HOME KINETOSCOPE
These pix of an Edison Kinetoscope were on American eBay.
The seller said it was made for one year only in 1922, and even fewer were sold than were made. It uses, as I recall, three-strip 22mm film,
the first row of pix cranked forward, the second backward and the third forward again. He did not say how on earth it has survived for nearly
100 years in such amazing condition. In every other respect, his eBay listings were a perfect model of what an eBay listing should be; clear,
comprehensive and with superb photos. The guy was even selling (separately) 4 films! If that were not enough, there were two other Kinetoscopes
on eBay at the same time, tho' not in such good nick, one with 2 films and one with just a part film.
Mikael Barnard confirms my 22mm recollection, and provided a far better pic than I have seen before. Stephen Herbert tells me each individual
picture was 4 x 6mm, and claimed projection size was up to 64"; notably, the film stock was cellulose acetate - safety film. He also says the arc lamps
weren't very successful.
This made me go back to the film listings and grab more pix.
Apart from the last one, where it's not worth it, I have fiddled with the original pix of the film itself.
According to the third seller, the arc lamp was the most common light source, followed by the rarer acetylene lamp and
finally a Nernst lamp, very rare and fitted to his machine. Here it is.
I also found an ad on the internet - I need a credit for this pic please, if anyone knows the source - I forgot to make a note.
Been trying to find a bit more 22mm info, but it's mostly a few lines in a historical summary rather than detail. Any contributions/source
references gratefully received. I did find a couple of sites you might like to look at, mostly about the history of gauges:-
http://oldfilm.org/content/brief-history-amateur-film-gauges-and-related-equipment-1899-2001
http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/tank/GaugesHorak.htm