Celluloidin

Celluloidin is a type of nitrate film base that was widely used in the early days of cinema. It was invented by Eastman Kodak in 1889 and became the standard film base for motion pictures until the late 1940s. Celluloidin is made from cellulose nitrate, a compound derived from wood pulp, which is dissolved in a solvent and then coated onto a strip of film. The resulting film is highly flammable and sensitive to heat, light, and humidity, which has led to significant degradation of celluloidin films over time.

Celluloidin films were used in the silent era of cinema, from the late 1890s to the early 1930s. They were popular due to their high sensitivity to light, which allowed for longer exposures and better image quality in low-light conditions. However, the flammability of celluloidin films posed a significant risk to theaters and studios, leading to numerous fires and the loss of many valuable films.

In the 1940s, the use of celluloidin films began to decline as safer and more stable film bases, such as cellulose acetate, were developed. Today, celluloidin films are rare and highly prized by film preservationists and collectors. The degradation of celluloidin films has led to the loss of many important historical and cultural artifacts, making the preservation of these films a critical area of research and conservation.