American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1932)

24 American Cinematographer • December 1932 THE German firm, Ernemann, A.C., of Dresden, made great efforts to popularize substandard film. In 1903 they introduced an apparatus for amateur cinematography which is doubly notable as it was the first to bear the name "Kino." It consisted of a box measuring 6x14x8 centimetres, which contained the movement, and two detachable metal magazines holding 10 metres (30 ft.) of film each. The film was 17'/2mm. wide, and perforated in the centre. A claw movement with a pilot pin ensured perfectly steady pictures. The shutter consisted of a drum with an adjustable slot. The lens was set in a rack-andpinion mount similar to those used in projection-lenses; focusing was direct on the film, while a tubular finder was provided at the top of the box. The camera was handcranked, with the regulation one and eight-pictures-perturn movements. The takeup magazine was driven by a wire belt. This narrow-film camera was demonstrated in 1903 before a select gathering of the Dresden City Council; the next public showing took place November 7, 1904, at the Vienna Photoclub. The first model of the Ernemann single-sprocket movie camera was designed for taking pictures only, with a separate apparatus used for projection. Just a few hundred of this first model were built. In 1904 a second model appeared on the market. It showed great improvement in both the construction and the mechanical design of the apparatus. Instead of the two single magazines a double one was used, and the exposed film was taken up by means of a spring-driven clockwork takeup built into the magazine. This second model could be used for taking, printing and projecting films. The claw movement was replaced by a Maltese Cross; the drum shutter was supplanted by an adjustable disc. Constant sharp focus was insured by the introduction of a pressure plate, which was here used, apparently, for the first time. This model, like the previous one, was hand-cranked, with 8:1 and 1:1 shafts. The magazine was fastened simply to the camera, as the built-in clockwork takeup worked independently of the camera-movement. A Forerunners built-in finder permitted focusing directly on the film, and the lens was mounted in a spiral focusing mount similar to those in use today. When used as a projector, the camera was placed on a special stand fitted with a fixed lamphouse. Like all the projectors of the period, it was hand-cranked. Another Dresden firm also made apparatus for using the 17.5mm., center-perforated film used by Ernemann. This apparatus was the Kretzschmar, and was very similar to the Ernemann model, using a Maltese Cross movement, with pilot pins, 8:1 and 1 :1 cranks, and adapted for taking, printing and projection. In 1912 the French firm, Pathe Freres, introduced a substandard projection apparatus known as the Pathe "K-O-K." For this they introduced a special film, 28mm. in width, with a special perforation: four perforations per frame on one side of the frame, but only one to the frame on the other side. The projector for this system was an entirely self-contained unit. The current necessary for the projection-light was generated by a small dynamo belted to the crank which powered the movement. An ingenious frictiondrive took care that the light was constant regardless of the speed of the crank; there was no danger of burning out the lamp through generating too high a voltage. In 1913 the manufacture of this apparatus was transferred to America. Under the name of "Pathescope" an improved projector for use with any existing electric-light circuit was marketed; also a camera for photography with the previously mentioned 28mm. Pathescope film. The Pathe Company also established a considerable library of 28mm. subjects, using, for the most part, reduction prints from the 35mm. productions of the Pathe Studios. (EDITOR'S NOTE: The introduction of this 28mm. Pathescope System appears to have been motivated less by consideration of economy than by a desire to keep the inflammable, nitrate-base professional films out of the home field; Pathescope films were coated on Acetate-base "Safety Film." This standard achieved a considerable degree of popularity in American Home Movie and Educational circles up to the introduction of the 16mm. system. In 1918 the Society of Motion Picture Engineers officially recognized two Film Standards: the professional 35mm. standard, and the 28mm. "Safety Standard." The latter was identical with the Pathescope standard except that it was perforated conventionally, with four perforations per frame on each side of the film. "Safety Standard" and "Pathescope Standard" prints were therefore interchangeable in projection on Pathescope machines, but Safety Standard projectors could not, unless modified, use Pathescope prints. Like Pathescope film, Safety Standard film was coated on slow-burning Safety Stock. Both systems used the negative-positive system, which was obviously almost as costly as regular 35mm. film, having only the advantage of the lessened fire-hazard.) In 1912 there also appeared the "Duoscope," which may be termed the simplest and most original of all narrowfilm cameras. It produced negatives which were afterwards enlarged on paper; these single-frame paper enlargements were bound together in little booklets, and viewed by rapidly flipping the leaves with the hand, on the principle of the old "Mutoscope." These pocket movie books were commercially marketed as "Biofix." The film was 1 7 Vz