Film from the early 1900's

[pschauss]

I creating a photo book for the 150'th year celebration for my church and, in going through our archives, found some negatives. Based other information that I have, it appears that some of the pictures were taken around 1910 and 1920. Most are individual sheets approximately 4x5" but a few are smaller, about 3 1/2" square. All are decent shape, especially considering the conditions in which they were stored.

Was film available in formats like this in 1910 and, if so, what kind of base was used? This stuff does not look like the nitrocellulose film which I have seen.

The first picture is supposed to be from 1910. The second was take about 10 years later.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Peter,

That's fun! And congratulations for doing it!

Although commercial (celluloid-based) sheet film dates back to 1888, plates were much more popular for a long time. I don't know when total usage of celluloid sheet film overtook plates, but I'd guess that it wasn't before the 20s or much after WW2.

The 3-1/2 inch square format was very rare for camera originals but was (as far as I recall) a popular lantern-slide format. Are you sure they're not quarter-plates, 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 inches?

Of course it's also possible that they are BIG, OLD roll-film negatives: roll-films up to whole-plate were made at one time. How floppy are they? Do they feel more like roll-film or cut film?

Cheers,

R.

 

[pschauss]

Some of the negatives look like they were cut. The actual image on the larger ones is 3 1/4 x 4 3/4 on some and 3 3/4 x 4 3/4 on others. Some appear to have been cut on the narrow end others on the wider edge. Most appear to have been cut only on one edge.

The film base is thick enough that if I hold a negative by one edge it only flexes a small amount if at all.

 

[sepiareverb]

Sounds like sheet film- the old roll film stuff I've got is floppier than a... well very floppy.