BRITISH STANDARD BS 5550-2.9.

2:
1980
Incorporating
CONFIRMED Amendment No. 1
OCTOBER 1985

Cinematography —
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Part 2: 16 mm film —

Section 2.9 Projector spools —

Subsection 2.9.2 Specification for spools

for 16 mm motion picture projectors
(from 244 m to 610 m capacity: 24 cm
to 38 cm size)

[UDC 778.553.4.068.25]
 BS 5550-2.9.2:1980

Co-operating organizations

The Cinematograph Standards Committee, under whose supervision this

British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives from the following
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Government departments and scientific and industrial organizations:

Association of Specialised Film Producers

Board of Trade
British Broadcasting Corporation*
British Film Institute*
British Film Producers’ Association
British Kinematograph Society*
Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland*
Federation of British Film Makers
Home Office
Illuminating Engineering Society
Incorporated Association of Kinematograph Manufacturers
Independent Television Companies Association
Kinematograph Renters’ Society*
Ministry of Education*
Royal Photographic Society*
War Office*

The Government departments and scientific and industrial organizations

marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the following, were
directly represented on the Committees entrusted with the preparation of this
British Standard:

Admiralty
Army Kinema Corporation
Educational Foundation for Visual Aids in Education
This British Standard, having Electric Lamp Industry Council
been approved by the
Cinematograph Standards Film Laboratory Association
Committee and endorsed
by the Chairman of the
Institute of Amateur Cinematographers
Engineering Divisional Manufacturers of sub-standard cinematograph projectors and film spools
Council, was published
under the authority of the
General Council on
29 August 1960
as BS 2014

BSI 10-1999

First published as part of

BS 677 April 1936
First revision as part of
BS 677 December 1942 Amendments issued since publication
First published as
BS 2014 August 1953 Amd. No. Date of issue Comments
First revision as
BS 2014 August 1960
2832 September Indicated by a sideline in the margin
1980
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CMS/28
Draft for comment A(CME) 1421

ISBN 0 580 35691 4

 BS 5550-2.9.2:1980

Contents

Page
Co-operating organizations Inside front cover
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Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Nominal sizes 1
3 Material and general construction 1
4 Dimensions 1
5 Spindle mounting and drive 1
6 Clamping face 1
7 Film attachment 1
8 Finger holes and lightening holes 1
9 Lateral run-out 2
10 Finish 2
11 Running-balance 2
12 Weight 2
Appendix A Approximate metric equivalents Inside back cover
Figure 1 — Projector spools for 16 mm cinematograph
film (800 ft to 2 000 ft capacity) 4
Figure 2 — Details of bore and driving slot for flanges
with square holes 4
Table 1 — Dimensions of projector spools for 16 mm
cinematograph film 800 ft to 2 000 ft capacity 3

© BSI 10-1999 i
 BS 5550-2.9.2:1980

Foreword

This standard makes reference to the following British Standards:

BS 350, Conversion factors and tables.
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BS 5550-2.9.1, Dimensions of spools for 16 mm motion-picture projectors (up to

and including 120 m capacity: 18 cm size).
This British Standard has been prepared under the authority of the
Cinematograph Standards Committee.
A brief specification for 16 mm projector spools was first issued in 1942 in BS 677,
“Motion picture film”. A more comprehensive standard was published as BS 2014
in 1953. The 1953 edition provided for seven sizes of spools for normal use,
from 50 ft to 2 000 ft capacity, although it was not intended that the smaller sizes
should be used as take-up spools, and one of its principal objects was to provide
for future interchangeability and to encourage the general adoption of a limited
number of spools, thus facilitating economic production. This present revision
maintains the majority of the requirements and dimensions established in
the 1953 edition.
In 1958 strong representations were made to the Institution that the recognition
of a spool of 1 200 ft capacity was justified, having regard to the particular
suitability of this size for many scientific and documentary films, and films for
television. The replies received to a widely circulated questionnaire showed a
diversity of opinion but a majority in favour of the recognition of this size and it
is accordingly included in the standard series, now comprising eight sizes.
The dimensions adopted for this 1 200 ft spool represent a compromise between
British and American practice. The outside diameter accords with the American,
in order that British and American containers may be of the same size, but the
core diameter is the same as that established for the 1 600 ft spool, to enable the
manufacturers to use the same tools.
In order to provide a more logical relationship between the tolerances on the
outside diameter of the spool and the inside diameter of the container, unilateral
tolerances are now specified on the outside diameter of the spool in place of the
former bilateral tolerances. Purchasers are, however, asked not to insist on a
strict adherence to this feature of the standard until such time as the
manufacturers have re-equipped themselves with new tools.
In the brief specification for 16 mm spools in BS 677:1942, “Motion picture film”
it was permissible for the spools to have either a round bearing hole in one flange
and a square hole in the other, or square holes in both. In the 1953 standard this
alternative was retained in respect of spools up to and including 400 ft capacity.
For larger spools it was required that there should be square holes in both
flanges, thus permitting reversibility of the spool: this requirement remains
unaltered in the present edition. The specification for spools up to and
including 400 ft capacity has been deleted from this revision and is now the
subject of BS 5550-2.9.1.
All British Standards on cinematography are eventually to become Sections or
Subsections of BS 5550. Accordingly this British Standard has been renumbered
as BS 5550-2.9.2. BSI Sectional List 1, obtainable free from BSI Sales
Department, catalogues the British Standards on cinematography. The latest
edition of SL 1 should be refered to in view of these developments.
NOTE Where metric equivalents are stated the figures in British units are to be regarded as the
standard. The metric conversions are approximate. More accurate conversions should be based on the
tables in BS 350, “Conversion factors and tables”.

ii © BSI 10-1999
 BS 5550-2.9.2:1980

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
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contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i to iv,
pages 1 to 4, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

© BSI 10-1999 iii

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iv
blank

1 Scope
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This British Standard prescribes the requirements
for projector spools for 16 mm cinematograph film
from 800 ft to 2 000 ft capacity.
It specifies four sizes of spools, together with
dimensions, essential features of construction,
accuracy of assembly, and the finish required.
2 Nominal sizes
The British Standard nominal sizes of spools shall
be as follows:
Capacity
800 ft
1 200 ft
1 600 ft
2 000 ft
3 Material and general construction
The flanges shall be of such design and be made of
such material as not to crack nor to take a
permanent set, and the bore shall be capable of
withstanding the expected degree of wear. If
non-metallic, the material shall be non-flammable.
The hub may be of either solid or hollow
construction but shall be so designed as to provide
for:
a) the spindle mounting and drive specified in
Clause 5.
b) a method of film attachment complying with
Clause 7, and
c) the finger holes specified in Clause 8.
The flanges shall be firmly and rigidly attached to
the hub, so that they will not come apart under
normal conditions of use. They shall be so designed
as to provide the flat clamping faces specified in
Clause 6.
The flanges may be ribbed, but such ribbing shall be
so designed that there is no continuous concentric
groove which would permit a layer of film to move
laterally. Ribbing shall not encroach on the
clamping face, and the width over the ribbing and
over any rolled edge at the periphery of the flange,
shall not exceed the overall width specified in
Table 1.
All parts of the spool shall be free from sharp edges.
4 Dimensions
The spools shall conform to the dimensions given in
Clauses 5, 6, 8 and 9 and Table 1.
© BSI 10-1999
BS 5550-2.9.2:1980
5 Spindle mounting and drive
a) General. Spools of 800 ft to 2 000 ft capacity
shall have a spindle mounting and drive
complying with the requirements of Sub-clause b.
“Square/square combination (reversible spools).”
b) Square/square combination (reversible spools).
Each flange (or the entire hub, if of solid
construction) shall have a square hole and
driving slot conforming to the dimensions given
in Figure 2.
The alignment of the sides of the squares in the two
flanges shall be such that a test bar of
side 0.3155 (+ 0 – 0.0005) in may be passed
completely through the spool. The driving slots in
the two flanges shall preferably be aligned to each
other.
6 Clamping face
Each flange shall have at its centre a flat clamping
face which shall be free from any projection and
shall have a minimum diameter of 1 in.
7 Film attachment
Effective provision shall be made for securing the
end of the film, of such a nature as to accept the full
width of the film, and such that the film will be
freely released at the end of its run.
In spools of 800 ft capacity and larger, the flanges
shall be provided with access holes extending below
the film attachment device, and of adequate size to
furnish comfortable access for securing the film.
8 Finger holes and lightening holes
Spools of 1 200 ft, 1 600 ft and 2 000 ft nominal size
shall be provided in each flange with at least four
finger holes of not less than 3/4 in diameter at a
radial distance of from 11/4 in to 11/2 in from the
centre of the spool.
The shape of the finger holes or slots shall be at the
discretion of the manufacturer, and one pair of holes
may be so shaped as to furnish the access holes
required by Clause 7.
The flanges of all sizes of spools may be provided
with such lightening holes as the manufacturer may
desire.
1
 BS 5550-2.9.2:1980

9 Lateral run-out 11 Running-balance

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The flanges shall be free from warping or buckling. The finished spool shall provide a satisfactory
Each finished spool shall be tested for true running running-balance.
by being mounted on a true spindle fitted with a
truly normal clamping face, 1 inch in diameter to 12 Weight
which the spool is clamped as in service on a Finished spools of 800, 1 200, 1 600 and 2 000 ft
projector. The spindle shall be square in section nominal size intended for the transportation of films
of 0.3155 (+ 0 – 0.0005) in width across flats, the should preferably not exceed the following weights:
length of the square portion being such that the
Nominal size of Recommended
spool may rest freely upon the clamping face. spool (capacity) maximum weight
When the mounted and clamped spool is rotated,
feet ounces
each flange at its periphery shall run true, in a
plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindle, 800 15
within the following permissible limits: 1 200 18
1 600 21
Nominal size of spool Maximum dial indicator reading
2 000 32
800 ft to 2 000 ft 1
/8 in
capacity, inclusive

10 Finish
The spool shall be proof against corrosion under
normal conditions of use, and any finish shall not be
detrimental to the film.

2 © BSI 10-1999
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Table 1 — Dimensions of projector spools for 16 mm cinematograph film 800 ft to 2 000 ft capacity
© BSI 10-1999

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Maximum
Minimum Width
Width Width overall
diameter between
Nominal Diameter over between width
Overall diameter of flat flanges Bore
size of core clamping flanges at any
clamping at
faces at core part of
face periphery
the spool
A B C D E F G
Footage in in in in in in in
800 93/4 + 0 – 1/16 21/2 ± 1/32 1b 0.750 +0.04 0.650a +0.02 0.650 +0.05 1 See
–0.00 –0.00 –0.01
1 200 121/4 + 0 – 1/16 45/8 ± 1/32 Figure 2
1 600 131/2 + 0 – 1/16 45/8 ± 1/32 and
2 000 15 + 0 – 1/16 45/8 ± 1/32 Clause 5
a Ifspring fingers are used to engage the edges of the film, dimension E shall be measured between the fingers when they are pressed outward to the
limit of their operating range.
b The width over the clamping faces shall be symmetrically disposed with reference to dimension E.

BS 5550-2.9.2:1980
3
 BS 5550-2.9.2:1980
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Figure 1 — Projector spools for 16 mm cinematograph film

(800 ft to 2 000 ft capacity)

NOTE The tolerance is specified to limit the wobble.

Figure 2 — Details of bore and driving slot
for flanges with square holes

4 © BSI 10-1999
 BS 5550-2.9.2:1980

Appendix A Approximate metric equivalents

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The figures in British units are to be regarded as the standard. The following metric conversions are
approximate. More accurate conversions should be based on BS 350, “Conversion factors and tables”.

inches mm inches mm feet metres

0.003 0.08 0.825 21.0 50 15.2

0.005 0.13 1 25.4 100 30.5
0.01 0.25 11/4 (1.25) 31.8 200 61.0

0.015 0.38 11/2 38.1 400 122

0.02 0.51 13/4 44.4 800 244
1
/32 0.8 21/2 63.5 1 200 366

0.04 1.0 2.906 73.8 1 600 488

0.05 1.3 3.678 93.4 2 000 610
0.055 1.4 45/8 117
1
/16 1.6 5 127 ounces grammes
1/
8
3.2 7 178
1/
4
6.4 93/4 248 15 425

0.316 8.0 121/4 311 18 510

0.650 16.5 131/2 343 21 595
3/ (0.75)
4 19.0 15 381 32 907

© BSI 10-1999
 BS 5550-2.9.2:
1980
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