MODEL M-38-T 35MM FILM MEASURING MACHINE
Neumade Products Corporation, New York 1930's - 1940's
This Model M-38-T 35mm
Film Measuring Machine was manufactured by the Neumade Products Corporation
of New York, New York.
The Neumade Company was started by Oscar Frederick Neu (1886-1957)
in 1916, after he retired as an actor. Neu performed under the name "Oscar
Nye", appearing in 14 silent films between 1914 and 1916.
This particular example is a 3-hub (or 3-gang) unit. Per the
Neumade Catalogue No.4, and Price List
dated December 1, 1950, the gear housing and roller supports were
finished in black enamel, while the tension rollers and other trim were chrome
plated. Each machine was supplied with an acid-resisting, light-reflecting
white porcelain base.
Having a brass outlined manufacturer's tag with smaller
script (versus the chrome outline and larger script seen on later units) and
light colored enameled hub races (versus bare, chrome plated or anodized metal
races) seems indicative of earlier production. These attributes most likely date
this unit to sometime between the late 1930's and the early 1940's. This
guesstimate is supported in part by Neumade's 1950 catalogue, by which time the
Model N-38-T is still being offered but with the later style manufacturer's tag
and with what appears in the catalogue's depiction of the M-38 series to be a
bare or polished metal hub race.
The unit's "M-38-T" designation might lend some
insight into its timeline, if the meaning behind each character can be
confirmed. This is pure speculation on my part, but the "M" probably
represented "measuring" as Neumade's 35mm Film Measuring Machines and
Synchrometers all had "M" prefixes, with the "38" possibly
being the year this particular model was introduced (1938?). The "T" no
doubt referred to the unit's triple hub configuration, as "M-38-S" was
designated for the single hub model, "M-38-D" for the double hub and
"M-38-Q" for the quad hub. Like those found on most Neumade measuring
machines, the hubs are slotted to facilitate cutting film when needed.
This example features a patented Veeder counter capable
of registering up to 9999 feet of 35mm film, with a 5th digit calibrated for 16
frames per foot. The 35mm film width, together with 4-perforations per frame
along both edges of the film (resulting in 16 frames per foot), became the international
standard gauge in 1909. This standard remains unchanged for flexible film,
which is still seeing limited use despite the film industry's migration to
digital cinematography. Digital now accounts for probably 95% of all major
motion pictures being produced.
During Hollywood's Golden Age, Neumade Products was initially
known for a wide line of cinema equipment that included film counters,
synchronizers, rewinders, theater equipment, film storage and lighting. In the ensuing years, Neumade would engage in
the manufacture of radio and television equipment as these industries emerged. The
company is still in business today in Newtown, Connecticut, manufacturing and
supplying a diverse range of theatrical and motion picture film servicing and
production equipment.
The tonal quality of the hubs really highlights this
machine, giving it that "old Hollywood" look. It's what drew me to this particular example,
making me wonder, what great films from a bygone era may have passed through
these rollers!
Here's a link to the Visualnet website with a more comprehensive
history of the Neumade company:
https://www.visualnet.com/en/listing/neumadeproductscorp
And another link to the Internet Archive with a digitized
copy of Neumade Product's 1950 Catalogue No. 4:
https://archive.org/details/NeumadeCatalog41950/mode/2up
Earlier style manufacturer's
tag