Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers (1930-1949)

Progress Medal John I. Crabtree, head of the photographic chemistry department of Kodak Research Laboratories, received the Progress Medal "for his outstanding contribution in the field of photographic chemistry, motion picture processing and processing equipment." The formal presentation was made by D. B. Joy, Chairman of the Progress Medal Award Committee, as follows: "He was born and educated in England and started his professional work as a Research Chemist with the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester in 1913. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1924. He founded the photographic chemistry department of Kodak Research Laboratories in 1913 and is still its head. From 1916 to 1938 he also was in charge of the motion picture film developing department. He has conducted and supervised research in many fields of photography including the chemistry of development and fixation, methods of processing photographic materials, the use of desensitizers, stains and markings on photographic materials, preparation and use of flash powders, tinting and toning of lantern slides and motion picture films, the corrosive effect of photographic solutions on photographic apparatus, tropical processing, silver recovery, compounding of package chemicals, storage of photographic records, and effective methods of washing photographic materials. He has devoted much of his attention to the technique of motion picture processing. "A particularly important piece of research concerned the chemistry of the stop bath and especially of the fixing bath. Recent very valuable work has been done in his department on agents for "sequestering" calcium and iron in developers, on replenishment systems for developers, on rapid processing at high temperatures, on the preparation of concentrated liquid developers, and on the design of special processing equipment. "He has been author and co-author of some 150 papers and two books and has been granted 30 United States patents, covering a wide variety of subjects. His articles have been published in many countries and several have been reprinted as handbooks. "He has been a member of this Society for more than 25 years. He was President of the Society in 1930 and 1931, during which time he was largely instrumental in establishing the Journal on a monthly basis, the system of Sustaining Memberships, the Journal Award and this Progress Medal Award. His vivid discussions of papers have enlivened many a Society Meeting. He was a member of the Board of Governors for many years and served as Chairman of several committees and of the Board of Editors. "He has been an active member of many other scientific societies. "For nearly forty years, John I. Crabtree has worked diligently at his chosen profession of photographic chemistry. Much of the advancement of knowledge of general photographic and motion picture processing reactions and techniques can be traced directly to his researches and that of colleagues under his supervision." Samuel L. Warner Memorial Award Herbert T. Kalmus, President and General Manager of Technicolor Motion Picture Corp., was awarded the Samuel L. Warner Memorial Award. President Mole first spoke of the awarding as follows : "As one who comes from Hollywood, I am taking the liberty of saying a few words of my own on this award. In the early twenties, an obscure scientist was struggling in Boston to perfect a color formula for motion picture film which was destined one day to revolutionize the motion picture industry. This scientist, against innumerable odds and financial setbacks, was persistent, however, and finally conquered these obstacles to give to the world of motion pictures natural color as we know it today — Technicolor. "For bringing color to motion pictures, Herbert Kalmus must be credited as one of the savers of the motion picture boxoffice. Color came at a time when the public was tiring 538