American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

A.C., and is supplied with double 12-inch permanent-magnet speakers. Separate jacks are provided for microphone and phonograph pick-up, each with its own control so that sound from either one can be mixed with sound from the film, or all three mixed simultaneously. New Victor Camera A series of modifications of the well known Victor 16mm. camera have been worked out which are of sufficient importance to warrant considering it as a new camera. Designed to meet the needs of critical accuracy at all speeds for scientific purposes, this new development brings 16mm. camera performance to a new high. The new unit, called the "Aircraft" model is stated to turn in results of remarkable accuracy at all speeds over a range of temperature down to zero and even lower. Victor engineers report that the speed tests were made in a cold-storage warehouse at — 10° and the camera was left overnight to simulate the toughest conditions likely to be encountered in practice. The speeds were tested with a neon-type stroboscope and the settings of the instrument were not touched during the run at any speed. Even at the end of the winding the speed was, it is reported, still so close as to cause only a very slow "creep" under the stroboscope. This is held by the Victor engineers to be so accurate that time intervals for most scientific purposes can be obtained merely by counting frames, without the necessity for supplementary timing devices. The value of this for all research work is apparent. The new camera should also be found very useful for sport pictures such as analyzing one's golf stroke, etc. In the previous model Victor cameras the starting button was turned to set the speed of the camera, and when depressed to start the mechanism it also placed a tension on the film gate. In the new model the speed is set by a separate dial clearly visible in the illustration, while the other functions of the starting button were retained. To accomplish the new standards of accuracy and control, new bearings of an advanced type were used throughout, and a new governor was evolved together with such features as a lock on the starting button to hold it down at any operating speed, or to lock the button in the safety position when the camera is not in use. The new unit was worked out as a result of the efforts of R. Fawn Mitchell, well known motion picture engineer who recently joined the Victor staff. Deliveries are now being made and the response of those who have tried the new camera is reported to be enthusiastic. Idea Exchange (Continued from Page 124) equipment, but I think some of your readers may be interested in it anyhow. A universal remote-control device for movie and still cameras is often very useful. It will permit you to get into the picture yourself, or to put the camera, say, at some distant point on your car for making running-shots, or to photograph single-frame animations, and the like. With the cooperation of my brother, whose hobby is fine machine-work, I have developed the remote-controller shown in the picture. The drum-shaped housing contains a spring-operated escapement which through cams operates the projecting rod which in turn releases the camera's shutter, either directly, in the case of a movie-camera, or through a cable-release in the case of a still-camera. Since the "up" and "down" movements of this rod are set off by separate trips of the remotecontrol button, the device can be used to control any type of camera, regardless of whether its shutter-release is worked by pressing it up or down or, as in the case of the Filmo 8's, you get a steady run by pressing down, and single-frame stop-motion by pressing up. The cylindrical housing contains a solenoid which works a trip that allows the spring-mechanism of the remotecontroller to move the shutter-operating lever through one stroke. A small rod projects from this housing so that the trip can, if desired, be worked by hand. Since the shutter is released by the spring-and-cam mechanism, even working the device by hand doesn't jiggle the camera; the action is always smooth and uniform. Normally, the solenoid trip is worked by a push-button electric contact at the end of a long wire which closes a circuit to the solenoid from a small portableradio "B" battery. For some kinds of interior filming I have found it convenient to have the remote-controller arranged so it will automatically turn my Photoflood lights on and off at the same time it starts and stops the camer-a. This has been done by adapting an ordinary automobile headlight-dimming foot-switch which for convenience is mounted on a block of wood. Contacts are provided by which the 22-Volt circuit from battery to remote-control solenoid can be wired through the switch, at the same time the regular 110-Volt line from the house circuit is also wired through it to the Photofloods. In use, this switch first closes the 110-Volt circuit, turning on the Photofloods, and then makes another contact with the same stroke, operating the remote-controller. The next pressure on the switch turns off the lamps and stops the camera. My brother and I had lots of fun making and refining this gadget, and I have since had even more pleasure using it as shown in the illustration. DUDLEY E. PORTER. Glacier Park (Continued from Page 117) that if you get the right exposure for your foreground, the sky will go fairly dark anyway. So it takes only moderate MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT Studio and Laboratory Tested Since 1929 Automatic Developing Machine Complete in Every Detail Immediate Delivery HOLLYWOOD USERS CAN ATTEST MACHINE'S SUPERIORITY — USERS ALL OVER THE WORLD CAN RECOMMEND THIS DEVELOPING MACHINE. • SENSITESTER SOUND RECORDING SYSTEMS NEW ADDRESS ART REEVES 1515 Cahuenga Boulevard. Hollywood, Cal., U. S. A. Cable Address: ARTREEVES Amkrican Cinematographkk March, 1941 1 If)