Identifying old film reels

[Brett]

I inherited a bunch of old film (some quite moldy). Some looks like it is 8mm and some I assume is 16mm. First, how do I know if film is 8mm or super8? Also, is there a projector that can play both 8mm and 16mm?

Is there anything I can do to remove the mold before I digitally capture the footage?

Also, historically speaking, is color 8mm film in 1938 rare (i.e. when did color 8mm come into play)? I have some color footage of Vienna during Nazi occupation. Its pretty cool to look at, although the film is not in great shape.

[paul]

First, how do I know if film is 8mm or super8

The perfs of 8mm are wider. As a result theroff the images are smaller, more square. Super8 perfs are smaller and the images more rectangular.

Also, is there a projector that can play both 8mm and 16mm?

No, not that I heard off. 16mm is twice as wide as 8mm; different projectors are requierd. It looks like as if there is a run on 16mm projectors nowadays on ebay. However there are 8mm projectors wich project both 8mm and super8 films.

i.e. when did color 8mm come into play

If I remember correctly, the first 35mm colour movie came out in 1947 (the girl can't help it"???) I believe WWII colour films were dyed afterwards. there were some dying techniques before I believe (in duocolour mainly) but true 35mm colour film exists since the end of the fourties. But don't take my word for it.

Paul

[tfunch24]

Here's a photo of a Super 8mm reel and a Regular 8mm reel for comparison:



The film reel on the left is a Regular 8mm reel and the reel on the right is Super 8mm reel. Notice how the Super 8mm reel's center hole is bigger than that of the Regular 8mm reel.

That Vienna footage is either 8mm or 16mm. Kodak did not release Super 8mm until 1965.

I don't know how to clean the mold. Anyone?

Tom

[wahiba]

Kodachrome appeared in the mid 1930s. There is therefore some colour film around from before WW2. There have recently been programmes on British TV of wartime colour films made by amateurs. Usually wealthy ones with contacts in the US to get the film and get it processed, although much of it was probably obtained before the end of 1939 anyhow.

In the UK there was Dufaycolour. This was an additive process with a colour screen over a black and white film base. It worked, but I am not sure how well it survives.

Agafa also made a colour film before, and during the war but whether or not this was available as 8mm I am not sure. It certainly was available in 16mm. So all those coloured films of Adolf are not post coloured, many are original.

Bolex made Trifilm, bifilm and monofilm models:

G3 8, 9.5, 16
G916 9.5,16
G816 8,16

G16,G9 and G8 models for one gauge only.

The French firm Hautier did as well to the best of my knowledge.

I think you are more likely to find a DoDo though.

Possibly some other manufacturers did as well.

For old silent film filmed at 16 fps a 3 bladed shutter projector is best. Most of the newer models have two blades and are set for 24 fps.

[studiocarter]

someone sent me a 1949 16mm moldy film. I soaked it in Filmrenew to make it stop breaking and the mold got wiped off during the cleaning. Clear film base resulted where the mold was. some of the color got leached out. It didn't bother the Kodachrome much and the films were still very bright and colorful.

Try to contact a professional conservationist. Those films of yours may be historically important and thus in demand by archivists.

michael

[tim]

Technicolor was patented in 1917. Colour fim certainly survives from 1918. 16mm and 8mm colour film were both available (at a price) from the later 1930s.

Tim.