The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

July— August, 1943 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 77 LETTER FROM Capt. BRIAN LANGLEY I have received a large number of letters from A.C.T. members showing their interest in my life, which becomes more and more like a " continued next week Fitzpatrick "; letters which delighted me no end, containing as they do little scraps of news about the film business, who is working where — or otherwise. One letter which pleased me more than somewhat was from an erstwhile employer of mine, one known in Wardour Street as a Big Shot, who expressed his interest in my goings on." Bather pessimistically, I thought, he gave me an address in New Zealand should I ever get that far. (It is a business address). For your amusement and entertainment I now present to you, for the first time ever and in unimpeachable black and white, another episode of my life as an Army Film Unit Cameraman, which is rapidly becoming more and more akin to that of a tennis ball inasmuch as I whizz from here to there on the slightest provocation and am hardly settled on the racquet of authority before I am driven off again .... The small group of us who had accompanied H.B.H. The Duke of Gloucester on his tour of India and Ceylon stood on Karachi airport waving " God Speed " to his departing aircraft. When out of sight we relaxed, opened our magnificent presentation silver cigarette cases embossed with Royal Coat of Arms, and asked " What now? " " What now " turned out to be an assignment to cover one of those non-stop North West Frontier wars (see The Drum). Everything has to be done on foot up there, the terrain being too mountainous for motor transport, and so thinking myself no end of a strategist I teamed up with a mountain artillery battery on the principle that gunners cover less ground than infantry. Well, I was horribly wrong — up there the artillery lead Sni/e 76% Mem Hours with the DIXON POWER FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHINE A demonstration will convince you that the Dixon Power Floor Scrubbing Machine not only covers the floor seven times faster but leaves it infinitely cleaner than by the oldfashioned and costly charwoman method. The Dixon is made' to scrub any type of floor, is easy to operate and can be used by any available labour. It is power-driven and perfectly balanced and will not tire the operator. It is easily converted into a Floor Polisher and Burnisher. Write and let us show you how to save valuable labour and maintain your floors in a healthy and hygienic condition. R. G. DIXON & CO., LTD. CAPITOL WORKS, EMPIRE WAY, WEMBLEY, Middx. Phone: Wembley 41 39. Area of floor cleaned in one hour by one person using ordinary methods. Area of floor cleaned in one hour by one person using the Dixon Town Floor Scrubbing Machine. As supplied to Government Departments, Municipalities, Hospitals, Sanatoria, Institutions, Commercial and Industrial undertakings, etc.