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the wear and tear set up by the pins or field, he, of course, prepared films for use
with the Kinetoscope of his own manufacture,
sprocket teeth soon gave them a circular or
and he naturally adopted Edison’s gauge. As
elongated shape Then circular perforations
already narrated, Lumiere made an attempt
were adopted, but they soon became ellipti-
to set up an independent gauge, with one
cal. The number of perforations per picture hole each side per picture, but the Edison and
was varied also in the hope of securing stead- Paul films with an identical gauge had be-
iness of the film both in the camera and more come too firmly established, especially as the
especially in projection, but every effort ap- famous American inventor commanded the
peared to refuse to remove the difficulty. situation in the United States.
There was no market for either films of ma-
One of the early investigators was discussing
chines deviating from Edison’s gauge. Exhibi-
the subject one night with Lord Kelvin. The tors who had bought Kinetoscopes and films,
eminent scientist became deeply interested when they acquired a Lumiere projector, de-
in this trouble with regard to the perforations, manded that it should be so designed as to
and the disadvantages of the respective use the dims which they owned already, and
shapes shown to him. After a few minutes which were highly expensive. When other
film-picture manufacturers entered the arena
reflection, he remarked, “Why not use perfo-
they followed in Edison’s footsteps, because
rations of triangular form? They will not wear
there was no market for their wares if they
round or square. They will always retain their
did otherwise. Consequently the Edison per-
shape more or less, and at all events will give
foration gauge became more and more firmly
improved steadiness in running.” The advice established as time progressed, until at last it
of Lord Kelvin was followed, and the triangu- became regarded as the standard. It must be
lar holes were found to give the best results pointed out that this result was largely attrib-
achieved up to that time. utable to Paul, who became the largest man-
ufacturer of Kinetoscope films in the world.
Meanwhile the shape of the perforations and
Yet it must not be thought that the settle-
the gauge had settled itself in a curious man-
ment came about smoothly. There has been a
ner. The Kinetoscope appeared with small battle of the gauges in the cinematographic
rectangular perforations numbering four to as in the railway world. The Edison standard
each picture, on either side of the film. Edison gauge has its admitted drawbacks, the great-
had settled on this plan for his apparatus, est of which is that there are too many holes
finding that it afforded him the best results. per picture, which weaken the film and tend
to precipitate tearing. Two, or even one, hole
The machines were made and dispatched to
per picture on either side would suffice, as
various parts of the world. To maintain the
demonstration has conclusively proved.
interest in the novelty, a number of films
were prepared and sold to various customers An American rival attempted to swerve from
possessing the Kinetoscope. the standard in another direction, using a film
2¾ inches wide (70 mm) —double the width
When Messrs. Lumiere brought out their pro- of the Kinetoscope film. He eventually aban-
jecting apparatus, only one brand of film doned the wide band, partly on economic
available for demonstration purposes was on grounds, as a ribbon half the width produced
the market—that made for the Kinetoscope. pictures in every respect equal to those ob-
When Paul first entered the manufacturing

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