While living in Union Hill New Jersey, Charles Edwin Sharlow invented a new film reel for moving picture machines. The United States Patent Office issued Charles a patent (1,118,689) on November 24, 1914. Specifically, the invention related to the hubs of film reels, whereby the end of the film may be quickly and conveniently connected or disconnected from the reel.
Charles’ invention consisted of the specific construction and arrangement of parts, with a distinctive feature being a film clasp consisting of…
… a tubular central portion fitting in a corresponding recess in the hub and formed with lateral wings or extensions which conform to the periphery of the hub and are adapted to perform the function of film end holders…
If you’ve ever used a movie reel that used photographic film (and not magnetic media), you know you must insert the end of the film into a slot on the film reel. Once inserted, the film tends to stay in that slot and is retained in position as film is wound onto the reel. That slot in the movie reel was patented by Charles Sharlow in 1914.
Interestingly, this was not the first time a member of the Sharlow family patented this idea. Back in 1910, Thomas Sharlow, Charles’ brother, patented a simpler design. However, the design by Charles was often cited in future refinements of this concept. In fact, Charles Sharlow’s invention was cited in at least five more patents involving various materials wound around spools. You can see and read more about Charles’ invention here: Charles Sharlow Film Reel for Movie Pictures.