Hand-lettered, Blue Ring

circa 1940-1941

The second major reel design eliminated the adhesive gold foil label, probably in the interest of manufacturing efficiency. Reel title, number, captions, and indicia were printed directly on a buff-colored reel front. All reel labelling was concentric.

The characteristic feature of these reels was the ring printed in dark blue ink on the front of the reel, surrounding the inner and outer circumference of the cells. Again the purpose presumably was to mask the images and minimize reflections, because the reel retained the deep royal blue backside of the earlier gold foil design.

The reel was sold in a sleeve sealed on three sides and open on the top, printed in dark blue ink.