Amateur Cine World (January 1962)

44 Centre Perforated 16mm. I AM INTERESTED in 16mm. films, mainly from the projection point of view and I have acquired some reels of film of a type which I have not seen before. It apparently consists of two separate films on one reel with the picture of each film alternating and the second picture facing in the opposite direction. Each film carries its appropriate sound track on the outside edge. The sprocket holes are in the centre of the film, one picture carrying. a single hole and the other picture a double hole. I should be grateful if you could identify this type of process and possibly be able to say whether there are any machines that can run it and if it would have any value. I enclose a cutting for you to see. London, S.W.9. C. E. CANTWELL Your film is an experimental type made inLondon by Martin Harper about thirteen years ago. The idea behind it was to improve the sound quality of 16mm. films by increasing the speed at which the track passes through the sound head. To equal that of 35mm.—90ft. per minute—the projector pulling down two frames at once through the gate. Only one of these frames is, of course, projected. At the end of the reel the film is reversed and the other set of pictures and sound track is shown—eliminating rewinding. One advantage of the Martin Harper process was that, because the perforations were in the centre, a large sound track area was available. In fact, the sound track was directly contact printed from 35mm. (in the example shown, one track is variable area, the other is variable density) avoiding the need for the usual re-recording or reduction in printing necessary when reducing 35mm. to 16mm. Because of the large separation between frames, caused by the perforations, two frames of Martin Harper film have exactly the same height as one frame of standard 35mm. film. Although a few projectors and films were produced, the idea was never a commercial Amateur Cine World + January 11, 1962 success, since it did not receive the backing of any major manufacturers. The film may have some value to collectors, or, alternatively, you may wish to donate it to a photographic museum, such as that of the Royal Photographic Society. Obtaining a projector to show the film is simply a matter of chance—possible, but doubtful. Delayed Brickbat I HAVE just had the privilege of viewing the ACW Ten Best for 1958. You will see that New Zealand is a bit behind in ACW programmes and after seeing it I think that we are maybe a bit behind in our film appreciation. At least, shall I say 198 out of 200 of the club members and their friends are. Frankly we appreciate the technical expertise of the films but if this was a representative programme of British amateur films, then their makers must be a hell of a dreary lot. Now being an Englishman myself, I just don’t believe that all your amateur film makers are dreary. I can believe that these films may well be worthy winners of your film contest but representative of British amateurs, definitely no! Surely sir, you could produce a programme with just a little more audience appeal. Your public do matter you know! I felt I had to apologise to my friends for a very dull evening, even my padded chair felt much harder than usual. I sincerely hope that your next programme will at least gain a little more sympathy from your hayseed cousins down under. Hamilton N.2, New Zealand. LEO OWENS THE SOGGIES “I’m darned sure this bit wasn’t in my history book”