TL;DR
From the 1890s onward a wide range of film widths competed for adoption, from experimental 70mm and large formats to numerous amateur gauges. By 1909 industry consolidation and technical choices established 35mm as the dominant standard, while safety film and niche formats continued to evolve.
What happened
Cinema’s early decades saw an array of film widths and perforation schemes as inventors and companies pursued technical, legal and economic advantages. Thomas Edison’s lab adopted a roughly 35mm roll in 1889, and the Lumière brothers used 35mm for their Cinématographe in 1895, helping that size gain traction. Meanwhile many alternative gauges were tried — including 54mm, 63–70mm wide formats, and numerous smaller amateur sizes such as 17.5mm, 15mm and 28mm. Some firms used larger stock (70mm) to avoid patents; others experimented with unperforated or center-perforated strips. Safety concerns after a deadly 1897 Paris fire spurred development of non‑flammable acetate stocks (first marketed in 1908), and specialized formats followed for home cinema equipment (for example Edison’s 22mm Home Kinetoscope and Pathé’s 28mm Kok). The Motion Pictures Patents Company and international bodies consolidated specifications around 35mm in 1909, with Eastman Kodak emerging as a principal supplier, even though alternative gauges persisted in amateur and niche markets.
Why it matters
- Standardization on 35mm enabled the film industry to scale production, distribution and projection across countries and theaters.
- The wide variety of experimental gauges reflects how legal, economic and technical pressures shaped early cinema technology.
- Development and adoption of safety (acetate) film addressed acute fire risks and influenced the home and amateur markets.
- Surviving off‑gauge formats and equipment are important for historical preservation and for understanding early cinematic practices.
Key facts
- Edison’s lab ordered a roughly 35mm roll of film from Eastman in 1889; William K. L. Dickson produced 35mm strips for the Kinetoscope.
- The Lumière brothers used 35mm film in their Cinématographe debut in March 1895, with a single round perforation per image.
- A broad range of alternative widths existed in the 1890s and early 1900s, including 54mm, 60mm, 63mm, 65mm, 68mm and experimental 70mm.
- Biograph and other producers sometimes used 70mm or other wide gauges to avoid Edison’s patents.
- The Motion Pictures Patents Company (a pooling of major producers) and the Congrès International des Editeurs de Films helped standardize 35mm around 1909; Eastman Kodak became a chief supplier.
- Amateur formats proliferated: notable examples include 17.5mm (Birtac, Biokam), 15mm (Gaumont‑Demeny), 13mm (J.A. Prestwich) and later 11.5mm and other small gauges.
- Safety (non‑flammable) acetate film was first marketed in 1908; tri‑acetate was considered equivalent to nitrate for many purposes by about 1950.
- Pathé introduced a 28mm safety format in 1912 (Pathé Kok); by 1918 about 10,000 Kok projectors had been sold.
- Edison’s 1912 Home Kinetoscope used a 22mm strip with three rows of tiny images and was supplied as rental films in short lengths.
What to watch next
- Ongoing preservation efforts and collecting of off‑gauge equipment and films (source highlights collecting off‑gauge material).
- not confirmed in the source: how contemporary archival digitization programs prioritize and handle rare or unusual gauges.
- not confirmed in the source: current market demand and restoration activity for specific legacy formats such as 28mm or early wide gauges.
Quick glossary
- Film gauge: The width of a strip of motion‑picture film, typically expressed in millimeters; gauge affects image area, sprocket design and compatibility.
- Perforation: Holes or notches along a film strip used to engage sprockets in cameras and projectors for transport and registration.
- Nitrate film: An early cellulose nitrate‑based film stock that was highly flammable and used widely before safety film alternatives were developed.
- Safety (acetate) film: Film base made from cellulose acetate or tri‑acetate developed to reduce fire risk; introduced in the early 20th century and later refined.
- Home projector / Kinetscope: Small projectors and viewing devices designed for non‑theatrical use, often employing specialized, smaller film formats.
Reader FAQ
Why did 35mm become the dominant film size?
Industry convergence around 35mm was driven by early adoption by major inventors, the 1909 patent consolidation under the Motion Pictures Patents Company and international acceptance; Eastman Kodak supplied standardized stock.
When was non‑flammable film introduced?
A non‑flammable acetate film was first marketed in 1908; tri‑acetate formulations were regarded as comparable to nitrate by about 1950.
Were many other film sizes used historically?
Yes. The early decades saw dozens of gauges from very large (63–70mm) to many small amateur formats (for example 17.5mm, 15mm, 13mm, 28mm and others).
Is 28mm still a common format?
No. Pathé’s 28mm Kok achieved notable home‑cinema use and sales around the 1910s, but the format later declined in popularity.
Are off‑gauge films and projectors collected today?
Yes; the source notes interest in collecting off‑gauge movie equipment and films, though details of modern collecting markets are not provided.
More than one hundred years of Film Sizes Film sizes, marvelous scope for collecting SUMMARY 35mm, struggle for standardization Many early filmsizes Variety of amateur film sizes Safety uninflammable film…
Sources
- More than one hundred years of Film Sizes
- One hundred Years of Film Sizes. …
- Hundred Years of Film Sizes
- All about… 16mm
Related posts
- The answer cannot be nothing: the battle over Canada’s mystery brain disease
- The Concise TypeScript Book — Free, Open-Source Guide to TypeScript 5.2
- ‘The answer cannot be nothing’: Battle over New Brunswick’s mystery brain disease