Hannibal Goodwin
Encyclopedia
Hannibal Goodwin was an Episcopal priest at the House of Prayer
in Newark, New Jersey
, patented a method for making transparent, flexible roll film out of nitrocellulose
film base
, which was used in Thomas Edison
's Kinetoscope
, an early machine for viewing animation
.
He was motivated to search for a non-breakable, and clear substance on which he could place the images he utilized in his Biblical teachings. George Eastman
was no doubt a member of the audience during this time. On May 2, 1887, the year Reverend Goodwin retired from the church he had served for twenty years, he filed a patent for "a photographic pellicle and process of producing same . . . . especially in connection with roller cameras", but the patent was not granted until 13 September 1898. Patent number: 610861 In the meantime, George Eastman had already started production of roll-film using his own process. In 1900, Goodwin set up the Goodwin Film and Camera Company but before film production had started he was involved in a street accident near a construction site and died from his injuries.
who successfully sued Eastman Kodak for infringement of the patent and was awarded $5,000,000 in 1914.
House of Prayer Episcopal Church and Rectory
House of Prayer Episcopal Church and Rectory is a historic site at Broad and State Streets in Newark, New Jersey. It was built in prior to 1725 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972....
in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, patented a method for making transparent, flexible roll film out of nitrocellulose
Nitrocellulose
Nitrocellulose is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to nitric acid or another powerful nitrating agent. When used as a propellant or low-order explosive, it is also known as guncotton...
film base
Film base
A film base is a transparent substrate which acts as a support medium for the photosensitive emulsion that lies atop it. Despite the numerous layers and coatings associated with the emulsion layer, the base generally accounts for the vast majority of the thickness of any given film stock...
, which was used in Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
's Kinetoscope
Kinetoscope
The Kinetoscope is an early motion picture exhibition device. Though not a movie projector—it was designed for films to be viewed individually through the window of a cabinet housing its components—the Kinetoscope introduced the basic approach that would become the standard for all cinematic...
, an early machine for viewing animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
.
Biography
He was born in 1822.He was motivated to search for a non-breakable, and clear substance on which he could place the images he utilized in his Biblical teachings. George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
was no doubt a member of the audience during this time. On May 2, 1887, the year Reverend Goodwin retired from the church he had served for twenty years, he filed a patent for "a photographic pellicle and process of producing same . . . . especially in connection with roller cameras", but the patent was not granted until 13 September 1898. Patent number: 610861 In the meantime, George Eastman had already started production of roll-film using his own process. In 1900, Goodwin set up the Goodwin Film and Camera Company but before film production had started he was involved in a street accident near a construction site and died from his injuries.
Legacy
His patent was sold to AnscoAnsco
Ansco was the name of a photographic company based in Binghamton, New York, which produced inexpensive cameras for most of the 20th century. It also sold rebadged versions of cameras made by other manufacturers, including Agfa and Chinon...
who successfully sued Eastman Kodak for infringement of the patent and was awarded $5,000,000 in 1914.