International photographer (Feb-Dec 1929)

Dece.nber, 1929 The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER Fifteen The ^uper ^implex -BY SIDNEY BURTON, President of the American Projection Society, California Chapter No. The motion picture industry is at the present time passing through a period of uncertainty. With the coming of such inventions as sound, natural color, wide film and sterescopic pictures, manufac. turers of machines |J^ -«s K ;i li (I |il iicIik CI nl I pictures are casting S W >idelong glances at 4\ W each o t h e r trying ^^^^L mbjr to read one an^^ » wM/ other's mind in an ?ffort to convince themselves which form of entertainment to present to the movie going public Sound now holds sway and as far as anyone can see by all indications, will continue to do so for some time to come. Nevertheless, there is that breathless anticipation of what the future may bring. Television is now an established fact and it may very soon, effect many changes in the motion picture industry. The feverish pace set by these changes has caused the manufacturers of motion picture equipment no little discomfort and as a result the International Projector Corporation has brought forth the Super Simplex. It was a privilege of the writer to be invited to inspect these wonderful machines which were installed recently by the Eastman Kodak Company at 6706 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. The Eastman Kodak Company maintains a sound review room and the use of it is gratis to the entire industry for any use from reviewing to research. It is necessary, for the critical audiences that come to Eastman's, for shows to be projected to the very best advantage. This fact alone speaks well for the Super Simplex as it has replaced the equipment of another manufacturer. After a thorough inspection of these machines it may be well to enumerate some of the new features as they were pointed out through the courtesy of Mr. G. W. Watson, who is the projectionist in charge at Eastman's. The most outstanding addition which is evident at first glance is the revolving shutter that is placed between the lamp and the cooling plate instead of its former position in front of the lens. This shutter consists of two separate components, each having two blades. The blades resemble those of an ordinary electric fan, with the exception that they have a saw-tooth effect along their edges. These saw-tooth projections are about one half inch long. The entire shutter is encased in a protective covering so the projectionist cannot be injured by the revolving blades The position in which it is placed reduces the heat at the cooling plate. In fact it was pointed out that after running a reel the fingers could be placed on the cooling plate and could be held there indefinitely. It can be seen by this demonstration that the shutter being in this position serves many valuable purposes. First, it reduces the fire hazard. Many fires have been started by film, during the threading process, touching an overheated cooling plate. Second, it lengthens the life of film by protecting it from the excessive heat of the arc lamp. In doing this the film retains its natural moisture and thereby reduces buckling of film and splices, which ordinarily occurs when being subjected to extreme heat. As we glance at the operating side of the machine we see three levers directly in front of the revolving shutter. The levers are at right angles to the old style framing lever and instead of being placed in a front to back position they run straight across the back of the head with the handles almost even with the face of the projectionist. As we turn the top handle to the left the gate is opened. No more burning the finger tips to open the gate. The second handle is the framing lever. Framing is accomplished by rotating this handle either way. The third protruding handle is used to retime the revolving shutter. As we continue still further forward we see a small set screw on the cooling plate which, when loosened with the fingers, allows the aperture plate to be moved up and down. This machine has two apertures made in one piece. One for Movietone, the other for standard film. Either one can be used by simply moving the whole plate up or down. When using the Movietone aperture and we desire to center the picture on the screen we need only release a lock on the side of the head and throw over another lever on the front of the machine and the lens is shifted the proper distance off center, and our picture is centered on the screen. It takes less time to perform this operation than it does to tell about it. After the lens is shifted the lens lock is again applied and there is no cause to worry about the lens moving unless the lock is released. To hold the lens securely in the barrel a new lens lock has been devised instead of the small screw of the early models. The focusing of the lens is done with the aid of another handle which projects from the front of the mechanism and is rotated one way or the other. Another fine feature of this machine is the accessibility for oiling its various parts. Oil tubes have been provided throughout and the whole mechanism can be oiled in about two minutes. Many more valuable improvements have been placed on this machine and a glance at it convinces one of its massive, sturdy construction. It is truly a Super Simplex and International Projector Corporation is to be congratulated for its perfection. SOUND REPRODUCTION EQUIPMENT IN EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY HOLLYWOOD PLANT. The first of the neiv type to be installed on the Pacific Coast. By P. B. Almquist. The Sound Reproducing Equipment at the Eastman Kodak Company's building, in Hollywood, is the type of Western Electric System particularly adapted to small auditoriums used for review purposes. This particular installation incorporates all of the latest improvements necessary for the best sound reproduction, also a number of special features which are not used in regular theater equipments. The two projection machines are the Universal Base Type equipped with the new type Super Simplex Projection Heads and provide for sound reproduction from both film and disc records. Completed sound pictures ready for release can, therefore, be shown as in a theater. Prior to the release of a picture however, at the time when it is necessary to review the picture in its various stages of completion, it is often convenient to provide the sound record on a separate film instead of on the same print as the picture or on a disc record This requires what is known as double film projection, involving the use of two projection machines operating in synchronism, one for the sound track and the other for the picture. For this purpose, the electrical interlock system used in studios for maintaining synchronism between the motors driving the cameras and sound recording machines is used. Instead of the standard motor drive and control box, a wound rotor induction motor is used as a direct drive for each Universal Base machine. These motors are in turn electrically driven and controlled by a master motor of the same type, known as a distributor. Starting torque and speed control for the distributor is obtained by means of a direct connected motor and associated control box. Two such distributor sets with suitable switching devices are prvoided, either of which may be used for operating the projectors, either singly or together in sychronism. The amplifier used in reproduction is the small box type, the output of which is directly connected to horns behind the screen. This amplifier, the switching panels and battery boxes occupy a minimum of space on the rear wall of the projection room. The Review Auditorium contains a special control desk, conveniently located in the rear corner. The equipment in this desk not only provides communication with the projectionist, but also permits the transfer of the sound reproduction controls to the auditorium. Faders, with suitable switching devices, make it possi(Continued on Page 10)