Is black edge 16mm reversal film always the original camera film?

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

From another thread I was told black edge film means it is a reversal film. (Disregard yellow arrow.)

 

 

Is black edge reversal film always the original shot-in-the-camera film? Or did they also dupe films with reversal film to produce a black edge on the dupe copy?

[Tyler Purcell]

Those little dots or slices missing from the film, are actually from the camera. It's an identifier to allow people to know what brand/kind of camera the film was shot on. 

[Simon Wyss]

This is an image of a reversal camera original. You see the frames slightly overlapping, evidence of only few camera models. Most apertures are less in height than the pitch but still higher than projector apertures.

However, you also have reversal prints. These basically also show black where no exposure took place (on the printer) but you will see a printer frame almost always larger than the standard camera aperture. Some printers introduced markings on the edges somewhat similar to the various shapes from cameras. They can be two round dots or rectangular impressions and the like. Black-and-white reversal print stocks were used and colour reversal print films. Reduction prints were made as well as contact ones. Blow-ups from 9.5 mm and 8 mm existed, too.

[Charles MacDonald]

Early in making commercial colour films (as opposed to Home movies) using a reversal Original printed on reversal print film was the go to method in 16mm.  some will have a soundtrack, but still be black, or black with edge printing, on the perf side.