American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

minimized by placing the projector on a piece of rubber or felt. It is difficult to determine the correct volume-level for sound when one is standing by a running projector. Therefore it is a wise plan to make a test before the show commences, by standing in a position which will be taken by a person sitting in the centre of the audience. A bad splice might cause the fastmoving sound-film to become unseated. Therefore it is advisable to occasionally hold the index finger and thumb on the edge of the film at a spot near the take-up reel; by doing this, any torn perforations can be felt and the projector immediately stopped. Placement of Speaker The correct placement of a loudspeaker is not on the floor as is usually thought, but above the heads of the audience with the axis of the speaker cone falling about the centre of the audience. The amplifier of a projector uses tubes similar to those in radio sets, which in time, lose their efficiency, so they should occasionally be tested. It is advisable always to carry a spare set of tubes and an exciter-lamp. Projectionists should study their instruction-book and not meddle with the amplifier. If trouble develops, the manufacturer or dealer should be consulted. It is advisable to keep a record of the hours the projector is used, and dates when oiled. Particular attention should be paid to cleanliness. If the projector splashes oil, care should be taken that none of this comes in contact with the film. The exciter-lamp should be free from fingerprints, dust, or dirt, and sound films should be cleaned more frequently than silent films because dust affects the sound optica] system. END. West Indies (Continued from Page 127) belong in the West Indies chain of islands, it is in the area and just off the coast of Venezuela and many cruise boats include it in their itinerary. This is another island which would furnish enough material to make a complete travel reel. Curacao is an island blessed with one of the finest protected harbors in the world for ships of all draughts. It is Dutch and a free port so there is great activity in trading. All tourists who go there take advantage of the dutyfree provision which makes foreign articles unusually cheap. The principle of free trade is the basis of all Dutch settlements throughout the world and it is this feature that has made them prosperous and busy. Make this free trade angle your theme and you will have a new way to tie up ships coming, unloading cargo and departing and tourists looking and shopping. Willemstad is the capital city and really looks like a bit of Holland transplanted to this hemisphere. It is built on either side of a narrow deep inlet which leads to the inner harbor. This waterway has almost as much traffic on it (in tonnage) as any four-lane highway in our industrial east. There is a pontoon bridge which swings open to let the boats pass and swings back into position to let crowds of people and automobiles get on their way again. The bridge is a feature which you can cover from many angles. If you can get permission to go up into the signal tower you can work up a good sequence of ships coming and going and how the traffic is controlled to prevent collision. The opportunity to make loading and unloading scenes is endless down around the docks. A forceful way to illustrate just how important commerce is to Curacao would be to build up a series of shots with men and women in various walks of life in the foreground and ships passing like city street traffic in the background. You can find a barber shaving a customer and a ship through the window, or a business executive answering the telephone while a liner seems to pass right under the window. This idea could be carried out in as many situations as you feel necessary. The Government buildings are most imposing and entirely different from anything you have seen elsewhere in the West Indies. Dutch Marines mount guard in front of the Palace and they too are different and good for a number of shots. There is a market that is unusual along the quay where small sr.il boats from Venezuela tie up and sell their goods to passersby. The traffic court has a novel procedure. Small tov automobiles and trucks are used by the defendant and the prosecuting attorney to illustrate their sides of the story. The whole drama is excitedly reenacted on a desk right in front of the presiding judge who looks on sternly official. The making of Panama hats is a long established industry in Curacao and as they are generally made outside in the sun you will find it easy to cover. Jamaica stands alone out in the Caribbean south of Cuba. It is easy to find features there. Waterfalls and beaches on the north coast are typically tropical with waving palms and verdant growth. You can make the same kind of coconut-harvest sequence here as you can on Trinidad. One very unusual and distinctive feature can be found in the central plateau part of the island where a large herd of East Indian cattle are raised. The foregoing can serve as a guide to those wdio might want to sail the West Indies this winter on a picture-taking cruise. By no means do these constitute all of the available features, but I believe that they are the outstanding ones which you will want to photograph and this list might help you to plan so as to conserve your efforts and film. Since you will spend many hours on shipboard, you will doubtless make all kinds of shots of the activities of your fellow passengers and the ship's crew. Such scenes as heaving anchor, dropping anchor, the whistle blowing, signal flags going up, officers taking sextant readings, the wrake of the boat, sunlight on the water, sunrises and sunsets will fill in giving a smooth continuity from island to island. END. 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Calif. NEW. USED. REBUILT. STUDIO, RECORDING AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT. Cameras. Printers, Splicers, Recorders, Amplifiers, Cable Horses, Moviolas. Interlock Motors. Developers, Galvanometers, Opticals. Glowlamps, etc. Free Bargain Bulletin. Buy or Trade. S. O. S. Cinema Supply Corporation, New York. FOR SALE — WALL REBUILT BELL AND HOWELL SINGLE SYSTEM. 3 I.KNSF.S. 2—1000 FT. MAGAZINES, TRIPOD. FINDER, MOVIETONE QUARTZ SLIT. PORTABLE RECORDING AMPLIFIER. INDUCTOR MICROPHONE -COMPLETE $1750.00. MOTION PICTURE CAMERA SUPPLY, INC. 1600 Broadway New York City LIKE NEW, H.C.E. "Hollywood" Combination 35 and 16 mm automatic one-man developing machine. Operating capacity 3000 feet of positive or 1500 feet of negative per hour. Price $1250.00. HOLLYWOOD CAMERA EXCHANGE. 1600 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California. WE BUY. SELL AND RENT PROFESSIONAL AND 16mm EQUIPMENT. NEW AND USED. WE ARE DISTRIBUTORS FOR ALL LEADING MANUFACTURERS. RUBY CAMERA EXCHANGE, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City Established since 1910. FOR SALE: Eyemo 35mm. No. 286144, brand new, never loaded. Has offset locking type turret, prismatic focusing magnifier, etc., 31 mm F:1.9: 50mm. F:2.S: 75mm. F :1.9 ; 100 mm F:2.8; 150mm. F :4.5 lenses. Filters and Sunshades. Total price $785.00. HYLAND LYON 408 So. Van Ness Ave. Hollywood, Calif. WANTED WANTED TO BUY— Professional Bell & Howell camera or Mitchell camera. State lowest price and condition. Also 16mm. Stinemann printer Box 982. American Cinematographer. WE PAY CASH FOR EVERYTHING PHOTOGRAPHIC. Write us today. Hollywood Camera Exchange. 1600 Cahuenga Blvd.. Hollywood. WANTED TO BUY FOR CASH CAMERAS AND ACCESSORIES MITCHELL. B&H, EYEMO, DEBRIK. AKELE\ ALSO LABORATORY AND CUTTING ROOM EQUIPMENT CAMERA EQUIPMENT COMPANY 1600 BROADWAY. NEW YORK CITY CABLE: CINEQUIP lr.n March, 1941 American Cinematographer