The invention of roll films has been one of the main vehicles of mass distribution of the photo, even among casual photographers simple; along with some disadvantages (first of all it is impossible to treat the single frame in development), the practicality and cost effectiveness of the solution were the real engine of its distribution, which remains consistent to this day: the Eastman provided the Kodak its already loaded and arranged to pick up the roller once tripped and recharge with fresh film; so you were spared all the steps unrelated to the simple composition and taking picture, according to the famous motto of the time “ You press the button, we do the rest! .”
In addition to the machines pre-loaded, there was the evolution of a whole series of new devices for roll film, resulting blossoming of a whole range of different formats, some of which (the 120 format has exceeded the 100 years of life) still survive.
The various sizes were initially identified through the frame size or model of which used them (for example, Kodak Pocket size 102), while from 1913, Kodak has provided a means of cataloging code number of different formats, currently still in use.
From the following table you can reach the main historical information on the different formats (the year of disposal refers to the cessation of production Kodak, other manufacturers may have continued to manufacture the format); we also include the Disc format, though not exactly in the roll:
CODE |
YEAR INTRODUCTION |
YEAR DISPOSAL |
1916 |
1934 |
|
101 |
1895 |
1956 |
102 |
1896 |
1933 |
103 |
1896 |
1949 |
104 |
1896 |
1949 |
1897 |
1949 |
|
1898 |
1924 |
|
1898 |
1924 |
|
1898 |
1929 |
|
1898 |
1924 |
|
1898 |
1929 |
|
1972 |
Available |
|
111 |
1898 |
1924 |
1898 |
1924 |
|
1898 |
1924 |
|
1898 |
1924 |
|
115 |
1898 |
1949 |
116 |
1899 |
, 1984 |
1900 |
1949 |
|
1900 |
1961 |
|
119 |
1900 |
1940 |
120/220 |
1901 |
Available |
121 |
1902 |
1941 |
122 |
1903 |
1971 |
123 |
1904 |
1949 |
124 |
1905 |
1961 |
125 |
1905 |
1949 |
126 |
1906 |
1949 |
1963 |
1999 |
|
127 |
1912 |
1995 |
128 |
1912 |
1941 |
129 |
1912 |
1951 |
130 |
1916 |
1961 |
135 |
1934 |
Available |
1996 |
Available |
|
616 |
1932 |
, 1984 |
620 |
1932 |
1995 |
1935 |
1985 |
|
1982 |
1999 |