Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

February 16, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 329 Solution of Projection Problems HOW TO OBTAIN THE BEST RESULTS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL M Motography Gets Projection Expert J. Wesley Smith of Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company to Answer All Questions Regarding Machines and Their Operation OTOGRAPHY has obtained the services of J. Wesley Smith of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Co., of Chicago, for the answering of all questions in regard to projection. Mr. Smith is a recognised authority. Exhibitors and all others in the trade are invited to avail themselves of the aid Motography offers. Questions will be answered as quickly as possible and always with the thought of economy in mind. Appended are the first questions brought to Mr. Smith's attention and the answers: Q. — We contemplate opening a picture show here to run two nights a week, and have in view a second hand Motiograph Model 1 A. As we have no current in our, town, we have also in view a dynamo and engine combined. The dynamo is stamped 60 v.— 67 amp.— 1,100 R. M. P. The resistance unit with the machine is a rheostat, which is supplied by the manufacturers with the machine. Will this dynamo, under perfect conditions, furnish sufficient "juice" to handle the arc properly? What sized carbons would you advise with an outfit of this sort, cored or solid? Will we have to use 60 v. lamps for illuminating the auditorium or will 110 v. do? How do we have to pay our seat revenue? We will charge 15 cents admission and show two or three times a week. I hope our questions are not too ridiculous, as we are novices at this business. Will you be so kind as to enlighten us on this subject? A. — The dynamo, under perfect working conditions, provided the throw is not too long or the picture too large, will operate both the lights and arc. However, the rheostat is probably a field one and will not do for the arc. You will have to have a 60-volt rheostat in series with the arc in order to run the lights. I would advise that you use a half-inch solid carbon on bottom and five-eighths inch cored carbon on top. The war tax is two cents on each fifteen-cent ticket sold. If you will give me a little more information regarding the throw, size of picture, etc., I will be able to answer you more fully. A. — If the movement is regular, the trouble will be found in the intermittent and is probably due to (1) intermittent sprocket shaft sprung, (2) sprocket loose on shaft, (3) sprocket not true, (4) dirty sprocket. However, the motion may be in the camera or the printing machine, but the chances are it is in the projector. Q. — We have a strike on at the powerhouse, which probably will be settled in a short time, but we have to pay ten cents per KW., which is too high. Can a projection machine be successfully run with a small gasoline-driven generator? Please give me all the information you can and suggest the best type of outfit suitable for this purpose. A. — A projection machine can be successfully run with a gasoline-driven generator. The outfit will have to be of the best to assure a steady light at the arc. J. H. Hallberg, New York City, the United Theater Equipment Co., New York City, or the Dayton Electric Laboratories Co., Dayton, Ohio, will be able to supply your needs. Q. — It seems impossible to get the entire picture in focus at the same time. If the center of the picture is sharp, the edges are inclined to be fuzzy, and vice versa. Will you please tell me where the trouble is. A. — This is not an uncommon thing and may be caused by (1) lens combination loose, (2) oil on lense, (3) tension on gate too loose and allows the film to curl, (4) green film, that is, film which has been printed and developed but a very short time before you received it and has not had sufficient time to flatten. You will probably find your trouble is with a dirty or loose lens or with the tension on the gate. Q. — Lately we have been having trouble with unsteady pictures ; that is, the pictures move up and down on the screen. Can you tell me what the trouble is? Bring Out New Machine The new machine for office, convention and show window use produced by the Automatic Motion Picture Machine Corporation of New York City and pictured on this page displays film which can be readily seen even in daylight. Its operation is entirely automatic. After the reel is run through it is quickly rewound and then displayed again, so that after the machine is arranged and started it will continue to operate indefinitely with no further attention. The outfit consists of two separate parts, the machine and a miniature theater in which the pictures are displayed U IB ^B ^MMflS lOr ^hI Si. w ' : ' . New type of machine for office, convention and show window use put on the market by the Automatic Motion Picture Machine corporation of New York City. At the left is the mechanism with cover removed and at the right the outfit is shown ready for transportation.