Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

214 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. VI, No. 5. from over said aperture, and additional means co-operating directly with said screen for positively holding it in said adjusted position, substantially as set forth. 6. In a kinetoscope, a rotatable screen, fixed holding means therefor, and means for rotating said screen, and for establishing an operative connection between said screen and holding means, substantially as set forth. 12. In a kinetoscope, a pivotally mounted and bodily movable screen, holding means therefor, and means for rotating said screen upon its pivot and for moving it bodily to co-operate with said holding means, substantially as set forth. 17. In a kinetoscope, a pivoted screen, a rotatable disk movably mounted in a plane parallel thereto, and a centrifuge for forcing the disk toward the screen while the disk is being rotated, substantially as set forth. No. 999,097. Arrangement for Continuous Rendering of a Plurality of Phonograph Records. Maurice Couade, Laon, France. No specific mention is made in this patent concerning the utility of the device for "talking pictures," yet it lends to that branch of the art. The normal reel of picture film is twenty minutes, and by two projection machines handled by two skillful operators a number of reels of film may be projected without pause. The normal length of the phonograph record is two to four minutes, so that several such records are necessary for a single reel of picture film. The present invention provides a means for reproducing sounds from several rec 999,679 ords without showing the break between the successive records. The inventor's description of operation, and the two claims of the patent are given in full below : The working of the apparatus is as follows : — The motor being started and the excited electro-magnet K maintaining the plate E lowered, the disk M is laid upon the crown L and aligned so that the needle of the reproducer N rests upon the point of the spiral which corresponds to the point at which the reproduction begins. At the moment when this reproduction is to begin, the pivoting of the beam is effected by the electromagnet mechanism ; as soon as the plate E in rising comes into contact with the disk M, it raises the latter from its support or seat L and revolves it in its own movement. The reproduction then begins immediately. During the reproduction of this first disk, the succeeding disk M' is placed upon the crown L', as before its reproducer N' being arranged at the point of the spiral at which the rendering is to begin. At the correct moment one changes over from the reproduction of the first disk M to that of the second disk M' by throwing over the beam. There happens in the case of the disk M' the same as described for the disk M, while the plate E in falling drops its disk M upon the crown L, which causes its instant stoppage. These operations are repeated. The adhesion of the disk to the plate which takes place over the lower surface of the disk and the adhesion to the crown which takes place at the edges of the disk are facilitated by the interposition of baize or any other substance preventing the slipping of the disk, as well as by the roughness of the lower surface of the disk. The plate E is made sufficiently heavy to prevent any disturbance in the speed of the motor owing to the sudden increase of weight added thereto by the comparatively light disk at the moment of engagement. The coincidence of the release of one disk with the engagement of the other has likewise for effect to avoid this disturbance in the speed. 1. A phonograph having stationary supports for two records, means for simultaneously lifting one record from and depositing another record upon its support and means in connection therewith for rotating only the lifted record for the purpose described. 2. A phonograph apparatus having stationary supports provided with means for centering records thereon, in combination with rotary supports adapted to lift the records from said stationary supports and means for imparting vertical movement in opposite directions to said rotary supports whereby a record may be lifted from one stationary support while another record is deposited on the other stationary support, substantially as described. No. 999,679. Film Magazine. William N. Selig, Chicago, 111., assignor to the Selig Polyscope Company, of same place. The improvement consists of placing the film outlet ("mouthpiece," the inventor's attorneys have named it) in a movable manner upon the film magazine, so that the film will pass in substantially a straight line from the reel in the magazine to the sprockets, if it be the upper magazine, or in substantially a straight line from the sprockets to the reel in the magazine if it be the lower or take-up magazine. In the illustration, the dotted line shows how the film would have to be bent at the film outlet while the reel in the magazine is small, if the outlet were placed to run the film without bending while the reel in the magazine is lrage. The solid line shows the film as it runs with Mr. Selig's improved "mouthpiece," the movable outlet permitting the film to stretch in a straight line at all times. The claims are eleven in number, and appear to cover the invention very broadly. Claims 1 and 2 are quoted below : 1. A magazine for films, comprising a shell-like body portion adapted to receive a roll of film, said body being provided with a movable mouth-piece through which the film passes from the interior of the magazine onto a take-up reel, whereby a bending of the film during such passage is prevented, substantially as described. 2. A magazine for films, comprising a shell-like body portion adapted to receive a roll of film, said body being provided with an elongated opening through which the film passes, and a movable member traveling above said opening and serving as the mouth-piece of the magazine, substantially as described. Moving Picture Preferences Abroad Few American films are popular at the moving picture shows in Nuremberg and adjoining German cities. Consul George N. Ifft states that the only ones of interest are those depicting cowboy and Indian life. An excellent film showing American baseball was not appreciated at San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Consul Wilbert L. Bonney states that Mexicans do not understand the humor of the United States, while French humor, based on mistake, accident, or ignorance, is easily understood. It is the same with the plots of the little dramas shown. The Mexicans understand and prefer French motives, manners, and atmosphere in all matters of entertainment. However, panoramic films showing important cities and scenes are popular, as are also films showing troop and fleet movements. Consul Charles S. Winans writes that the films shown at Seville, Spain, are of excellent quality; often they have a distinctly educative value ; and invariably the French films are artistically set. Good French actors are employed and the scenic effects are in good taste. In the films of current and historical events, of course, the European field is unlimited. The burning of the Palais d'Art in Brussels; surf at Taormina, Sicily; and cavalry maneuvers in Morocco are only a few of the endless variety of interesting pictures which the European field affords. In Barcelona, Spain, according to Vice Consul General Harry A. McBride, there are now over 70 moving picture shows, and the number is increasing.