Mutoscope Owners
-
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:36 pm
- Reaction score: 0
Mutoscope Owners
Hi Guys
Does any member on these forums own a Mutoscope of any kind? I'm trying to establish the exact dimensions of the movie reels. Primarily the overall diameter and width. The size of the metal centre hub, size of the small metal peg on centre hub. Also Width of a card, the height of the actual picture.
As a long shot, anyone got a broken reel with loose cards and centre hubs apart, would like a photo please!
Any help would be appreciated. Cheers
Does any member on these forums own a Mutoscope of any kind? I'm trying to establish the exact dimensions of the movie reels. Primarily the overall diameter and width. The size of the metal centre hub, size of the small metal peg on centre hub. Also Width of a card, the height of the actual picture.
As a long shot, anyone got a broken reel with loose cards and centre hubs apart, would like a photo please!
Any help would be appreciated. Cheers
Re: MutoScope Owners
Afraid not but I'm sure our fountain of knowledge and expert Bob will be along at some point.
Re: MutoScope Owners
The Mutoscope flanges have a diameter of 4 5/16 inches (110 mm).
The lugs are 1/4 by 5/8 inches (7mm by 15mm) with rounded corners. I’ll attach a photo of a pair of flanges that show their profile which acts to retain the cards on the reel.
The overall diameter of the reels should be 10 1/2 (267mm) but are sometimes larger as the cards have lost some or the entire curve that they originally had to provide “snap”.
The distance from the flange to the outside of the reel is 3 inches (75mm) but the above comment concerning the curve applies here also.
The complete size of the cards is 3 9/16 inches (88mm) by 2 11/16 inches (68mm).
The picture area is 1 31/32 (50mm) by 2 11/16 inches (68mm).
The lugs are 1/4 by 5/8 inches (7mm by 15mm) with rounded corners. I’ll attach a photo of a pair of flanges that show their profile which acts to retain the cards on the reel.
The overall diameter of the reels should be 10 1/2 (267mm) but are sometimes larger as the cards have lost some or the entire curve that they originally had to provide “snap”.
The distance from the flange to the outside of the reel is 3 inches (75mm) but the above comment concerning the curve applies here also.
The complete size of the cards is 3 9/16 inches (88mm) by 2 11/16 inches (68mm).
The picture area is 1 31/32 (50mm) by 2 11/16 inches (68mm).
-
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:36 pm
- Reaction score: 0
Re: MutoScope Owners
Many thanks Bob for taking the time to do all those measurements, really do appreciate it.
I notice that there's a lack of dedicated forums for MutoScope owners to ask questions and exchange help.
Cheers again
I notice that there's a lack of dedicated forums for MutoScope owners to ask questions and exchange help.
Cheers again
-
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:36 pm
- Reaction score: 0
Re: MutoScope Owners
Bob,
Another question? I'm curious why all Reel cards have that hole below the picture? It does not appear to serve any purpose unless its used to help the alignment during manufacture?
What do you think?
Another question? I'm curious why all Reel cards have that hole below the picture? It does not appear to serve any purpose unless its used to help the alignment during manufacture?
What do you think?
- john t peterson
- Posts: 1336
- Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:40 pm
- Reaction score: 7
- Location: USA
Re: MutoScope Owners
Dear Bob,
I'm still holding out hope that you and Larry will finish the definitive book on MutoScope.
J Peterson
Springing hope in USA
I'm still holding out hope that you and Larry will finish the definitive book on MutoScope.
J Peterson
Springing hope in USA
Re: MutoScope Owners
I also miss a forum about Mutoscopes. I have one old Mutoscope in cast iron, probably from 1890/1900, British made I think, with one reel to it. I have the history of it also - it has been in a place called "Passagen" in Stockholm. "Passagen" was a shopping gallery in the early 1900 (and still is), placed in the fancy parts of Stockholm. I also found some old pictures from the shopping gallery with the Mutoscope standing there.
Patrik
Patrik
-
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:36 pm
- Reaction score: 0
Re: Mutoscope Owners
Has anyone seen or held a reel from a Mutoscope? Just wondered if the cards alternate with blank cards? Watching videos of reels playing, it looks as though there is a shorter card behind each picture card? Is this the case or do every card have a picture on?
Cheers for any comments
Cheers for any comments
- daveslot
- Posts: 496
- Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 4:00 pm
- Reaction score: 0
- Location: wilts/dorset/somerset border
Re: Mutoscope Owners
I always thought there was a card between each image to help the reel "flick" and prevent wear.
- badpenny
- Forum Moderator
- Posts: 7221
- Joined: Thu May 05, 2005 12:41 pm
- Reaction score: 28
- Location: East Midlands
Re: Mutoscope Owners
Not on mine, I removed them all as they were causing other pictures to be induced in the allwins I had either side.
Re: Mutoscope Owners
On all Mutoscope reels cards with pictures on them have a slightly shorter card interleaving them. These cards are there so that the cards with pictures are held in place by the "book trip" for a longer time in a stationary position than they would be otherwise and also to snap the picture cards down more quickly by the resilient quality of the interleaving cards. The quick forward movement of the cards blurs the movement to the viewer. The interleaving card thus creates an effect similar to that provided by the maltese cross system on a film projector which holds the film picture stationary in place for a moment while the light shines through it and has a shutter which obscures the light at the moment that the film is pulled down.
Re: Mutoscope Owners
This is all great information! Thanks! I'm in the process of a very ambitious project of creating a replica of an early wooden Mutoscope. I also want to extend the running time of the reel so I plan on making the metal hubs from scratch and making them bit larger, maybe 1/2 inch more in diameter for a total of 4 13/16". This will allow me to add cards to the reel.
I have several questions and would greatly appreciate any information to help me move forward on the project:
1. How many cards are in the average reel. I have read there are 850 but when I count from photos of reels, I come up with around 720.
2. Does anyone know the type of paper used for the cards. weight, etc.?
3. What is the magnification of the viewing lens?
4. Does anyone know of a Mutoscope mechanism that might be for sale? Just the mechanics.
Thanks so much for the help. I might try to post progress on the project for anyone who might be interested.
Rob
I have several questions and would greatly appreciate any information to help me move forward on the project:
1. How many cards are in the average reel. I have read there are 850 but when I count from photos of reels, I come up with around 720.
2. Does anyone know the type of paper used for the cards. weight, etc.?
3. What is the magnification of the viewing lens?
4. Does anyone know of a Mutoscope mechanism that might be for sale? Just the mechanics.
Thanks so much for the help. I might try to post progress on the project for anyone who might be interested.
Rob
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6650
- Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2002 12:12 am
- Reaction score: 59
- Location: The Black Country
Re: Mutoscope Owners
Rob.
800 is about average, I believe, but earlier reels had more.
I don't, but you might find this topic instructive: Reproduction Mutoscope reels?
Again, I don't know I'm afraid, but here are the dimensions.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6650
- Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2002 12:12 am
- Reaction score: 59
- Location: The Black Country
Re: Mutoscope Owners
Rereading, I see that Bob mentioned the very durable and snappy photographic “paper” from Eastman Kodak. I don't think they make it now, but presumably there's a suitable substitute. See Kodak Black & White Printing Paper, Films and Chemistry - by Michael Talbert
Excellent technical pdf on History, Technology, and Preservation of Biograph Company Mutoscope Reels
Excellent technical pdf on History, Technology, and Preservation of Biograph Company Mutoscope Reels
There could be up to 1000 images (2000 'leaves', blank sheets included).The company purchased 68mm bromide paper from Kodak company as the source materials for manufacturing mutoscope cards. Bromide paper is paper coated with gelatin bromide of silver emulsion.
Re: Mutoscope Owners
Excellent information. I did not know that the American Mutoscope Company started in Hoboken, N.J. Hoboken was my home in the late 1990s. Thanks again for taking the time to post the info and for a great forum.
Re: Mutoscope Owners
I would absolutely love an old tinny. I have spoken to quite a few old operators and I’m surprised how many are in lock-ups in the UK. One arcade owner handed over 20 of them to another operator as part of a deal for some new machines. He’s keeping them for now.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 45 guests