International projectionist (Oct 1931-Sept 1933)

October 1931 / i( / INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST ^9C1B 131407V 7//nfef/nof//o/na// OjECTK Edited by James J Finn Volume I I •y OCTOBER 1931 Number 1 Dedication A Letter From the International President Practical Hints on Everyday Projection Problems Harry Rubin Photographic Problems the Solution of Which Would Mater ially Aid Reproduction Lewis W. Physioc Sound System No Better Than Horn and Receiver Units Alli£ Iter A. P. S. Reorganization Problem to Await December Election Out of Frame 11 12 13 14 14 Projection Optics: Three Basic Laws Relating to Lenses 15 Hugo Lateltin Characteristics of RCA Photophone Tubes 15 Practical Problems Basis of Academy Program 17 Lester Cowan Local Advertising Should Sell the Craftsman — Not the Labor Unionist 18 James J. Finn Recent Technical Books 19 S. M. P. E. Fall Meeting at S'wampscott, Mass., October 5 to 8 20 P. A. C. Jottings 12 Questions & Answers 22 Editorial Page 23 New Screen Image Table Figured on Basis of Sound-on-Film Aperture 24 Reasonable Care Will Prevent Extraneous Noise 26 Motion Picture Screens — Methods of Selection and Maintenance 27 Francis M. Falge Television News Notes 30 Survey Answers Problem of Replacement Variations 31 News from the Science World 32 Notes From the Supply Field 33 Patent Page 35 H. L. BURKITT An Open Letter to James J. Finn 36 Miscellaneous Items Technical Hints News Notes Published Monthly by JAMES J. FINN PUBLISHING CORP. 1 WEST 47th STREET, NEW YORK, N. Y. Advertising Manager: H. F. Kendall Yeaiu>y Subscription: United Stales and possessions, $2 (two years, $3) ; foreign countries, $2.50. Single copies, 25 cents. Changes of address should be submitted two weeks in advance of date of publication to insure receipt of current issue. Circulation Manager: Ruth Entracht Entire contents copyright, 1931, by . Jfames J. Finn Publishing Corp. International Projectionist is not responsible for personal opinions appearing in signed articles in its columns. Cover design by Morgan Bryan. Printed by Roy Press, N. Y. MONTHLY CHAT THOSE buyers who are patting themselves on the back for the reason that they have successfully avoided buying new equipment or incurred any expense even for repairs for many months back are heading for a fall — and a steep one. A theatre projection room cannot operate efficiently with defective or worn equipment, and if it is being operated under these conditions, the bill will be twice as much some-odd weeks or days or months from now than it would be if the proper action were to be taken now. That projector mechanism that is humming so steadily today may knock and grind and tear itself to pieces tomorrow— and the results will knock the pocketbook harder if the mechanism should decide to quit during a show. Projectionists have no greater responsibility than to see that equipments are not permitted to run themselves into such condition that a repair job is out of the question. Most of the penny-wise buyers will shortly face a day of reckoning— and what a day it will be! A nominal expenditure of ten-, twenty-, or thirty-odd dollars of today, if left unspent, can multiply itself into an expense of several hundreds of dollars within a few weeks. And within a few weeks the buck will be passed directly to you, the projectionist, whose job it is to see that such occurrences do not come about. Western Electric is reported to have gone after the matter of replacing storage batteries in earnest. Report further has it that in the process of getting "het up" on the subject, W.E. is considering the following alternatives: (ll a special rectifier; (2) coarse filaments which will not respond appreciably to A.C. cycle fluctuations, and/or (3) a special optical system which will permit the use of the regulation filament. We will believe in No. 3 if and when we see it (although rumor has it that a Rochester optical company promises to do the trick j ; and No. 2, which we bellowed about two years ago, further complicates the matter of effective light beam concentration. We like to think of No. 1 as the answer not only because it appears to solve the problem most satisfactorily, but also because a question about it nets only blank looks among W.E. men. The A.F. of L. pow-wow at Vancouver in early October will take a vigorous stand for the five-day week. This is fine, and everybody is for it. The fly in the ointment will be Labor's demand for five and one-half days' pay for five days* work. Some fly. J. J. F.