Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

Ocfober, 1 945 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE 25 has discovered a damage which was not noted on the wrapperband. The patron’s report, however, must be made immediately and not delayed until the film (or slide) returns to the exchange and the loss or damage is noted there. As to lost shipments, the “iddits” are safe enough when on the receiving end but not on the returning end. The exchange holds itself responsible until the patron takes a shipment from the public carrier. Thereafter the consignee is responsible until the exchange receives it back from the public carrier. One favorite alibi of an “iddit” is the assertion that a film which he has been accused of damaging was shrunk or stretched. After checking many such claims with the BerndtMaurer film checking gauge, we can report that although we have never found a piece of perfect film (i.e., whose check showed zero on the gauge), we have found none that put the gauge pointer below minus 1 or above plus 1. This is the degree of tolerance allowed by any properly constructed projector. In view of our data, we would say that more often than not the tolercmce of the projector is at fault when repeated tearing of the film occurs. We assume of course that the threading was properly done, the film-track was clean, and the film was not so “green” as to stick. This tolerance of a projector, by the way, is one of the most marvelous features of the device. We are amazed at the ability of projectors to put a tooth of the intermittent into the sprocket hole of the film when the film is moving a foot a second, starting from rest, and stopping motionless 16 to 24 times in each second ! That is precision. Doubtless there are few other mechan isms called upon for such accuracy in timing. But back to our subject, “Patron Complaints.” Next to the “iddits” come the “tdmms” ( “that -doesn’t -meanme’s”). These members of the species homo sapiens believe, exchange patrons. They believe, for example, that order forms were made for the other fellow but not them. Hence, they make their own, or they disregard the lines and columns on the form provided for them. These “tdmms” seldom obtain the most out of the service offered them because they apparently do not like to read aything more profound than a comic sheet or anything printed in type smaller than newspaper headlines. If they are teachers, they may belong to that group to which the principal most frequently returns attendance and other reports for correction. They may become panicky, obstinate, or listless when they encounter any type of business form. Under such conditions, the sooner they are relieved of composing orders, and the sooner the work is assigned to a business clerk, the sooner the school will achieve desirable results. Everyone of course encounters the “idrs.” These are the “I-don’t-r e a d s” or “I-didn’treads.” No matter how carefully or comprehensively regulations, picture descriptions, or other essential data are set forth, the “idrs” will not know about it, and hence must have special attention. Even then they expect that “full details” regarding a dozen questions should be given them in not over ten one-syllable words. They refuse to “jump with the common herd” or “dip their porridge from the common dish.” To them there is but one patron. They never visualize their order arriving at the exchange amid a hundred others. preceded by hundreds more. “Why waste time reading through directions when a threecent stamp will bring special attention?” seems to be their reasoning. Of course, the exchange should give this special attention ungrudgingly ; but it would do well to refer the writer to the pages and paragraphs of the printed regulations rather than to give a specific reply. This may (we say “may” with a degree of pessimism) teach the questionwriter how to use the printed material furnished for the benefit of all. Specific answers may tend only to increase his “idr” habit. You can’t cure a habit by catering to it. If any exchange manager reading this or other articles of this series has supplemental data or criticisms to offer at any time, we shall be glad to give space to him in our column. The next article is entitled Suggestions to Teachers on How to Select Educational Motion Pictures. Copyright 1945, B. A. Aughinbaugh Colorado Bulletin Cautions Against Film Damage Recently Miss Delia Trolinger, Director of the Bureau of Visual Instruction in the Extension Division of the University of Colorado sent out a bulletin to her patrons, some excerpts from which we have her permission to pass on to our readers : Recently, in several cases of serious film damage, the school official has reported that “their projector” could not have done the damage since “their machine cannot damage films.” Frankly so far as we have been able to discover, no such machine is made. It is true that two or three types of projectors do have safety devices which catch certain types of damage under certain conditions; but no safety device takes the place of careful threading and constant supervision by the operator. It is unfortunate that some