The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

VI THE BIOSCOPE MODERN CINEMA TECHNIQUE July 15, 1931 Brilliant Foyer Novelties Smart Coloured Signs in Five Minutes We had an opportunity of inspecting this week some of the most attractive novelties for exhibitors that we had yet seen and they had the advantage of being priced so reasonably as to put them within the immediate consideration of every exhibitor eager to increase the drawing power of his vestibule and foyer. The novelties are four in number. The first is a novel system of adhesive letters. The letters themselves are made in an attractive celluloid-like material with mottled surfaces, and are in five brilliant and arresting colours. They are, moreover, made in a wide range of sizes and designs, at prices ranging from 10s. 6d. per set of 120 letters. The great point about these letters is that they are backed with a moist, non-greasy, adhesive paste which will stick instantly to any surface, but which permits of the letter being removed easily when necessary without leaving any trace on the most delicate surface. The letters can be applied to existing notice boards, to wallpaper, glass, cloth, and in fact any surface. All that is needed is a straightedge to ensure that the letters are in alignment, and a light pressure to attach the adhesive. How a Crisis Was Averted Once in position, the letters are so shaped and coloured as to catch light effectively, and as they are raised they can be read from the side just as easily as from in front. Special fluted aluminium boards can be supplied very cheaply if desired to facilitate the rapid building-up of notices, but this is not essential, and any exhibitor with ingenuity can devise constantly varying backgrounds for his notices. The flutings not only provide a better grip for the letters but furnish a series of "straight-edges” so that the setting up of notices in perfect alignment is swift and simple. The great advantage is that the entire signs for the front of the house can be changed if necessary in about ten minutes. An excellent example occurred in one of the leading West End houses this week when, after all the signs had been hand-written, one of the speciality artists was unable to appear through illness. All the billing on the front of the house was recast in less than an hour, and the management estimated that the system of lettering had saved them at least £ 5 in this one emergency alone. “Most Economical We Have Touched” The letters are not affected by damp or heat, and the most unskilful person can quickly build up from a reasonable range of type, extremely attractive notices. For an outlay of a few pounds one can get a comprehensive stock of letters which will be in perfect condition at the end of the year, even if in constant use, and these will be sufficient to do all the regular and incidental announcements required around the house. Exhibitors who have tried the system have found all sorts of incidental uses for the letters, and we were shown a letter from Victor Sheridan, of the Metropolitan and Provincial Cinema Theatres, expressing the liveliest appreciation of the system and adding that it had proved to be “ the most economical we have touched so far.” A testimonial of this kind from a man like Victor Sheridan should prove one of the most effective selling arguments possible for B.B.T. adhesive letters. .Another interesting novelty is B.B.T. interchangeable electric sign. This is a neat frame containing four, eight or eleven bands of brilliantly illuminated colours, all different, on which announcements in black celluloid can quickly be built up. The method of operating is extremely simple. A single lamp is sufficient to illuminate the frame and the general effect is so vivid and colourful that it must inevitably attract the attention of anyone inside. No verbal description can do justice to this simple little notice board which stands out like a scintillating jewel even in the most brilliantly-lit surroundings. The price for the largest model is only 42s. 6d., including the wiring and flex. This is emphatically a foyer adornment which will sell to any exhibitor as soon as it is demonstrated. If necessary these frames can be supplied with a flashing attachment at an extra cost of 4s. 6d. An Unfailing Eye-Catcher Another B.B.T. product is a flashing multi-colour ball consisting of a 12 in. opal ball with nickel-plated base 18 in. high, containing a 60-watt lamp. When alight it creates the optical illusion of a revolving ball with most brilliant and variegated colours. It requires no attention and its eye-fascinat In the latest issue of Fox’s " The Last Word,” R. H. McCulloch has some useful hints on the practical upkeep of sound systems. He points out that it is imperative that the Movietone light gate be cleaned every time before threading the projector for Movietone presentation. All projector bases should be permanently grounded. Never allow any outside source of light to come into contact with the photo-electric cell compartment during the time the film attachment is in operation, other than that source of light supply which comes from the reproducing lamp. A hum w-ill be perceptible if the sprocket perforations project over in light source of the sound aperture. Idler rollers directly above the sound aperture should be inspected quite frequently to see that they are moving freely. If they are allowed to become cut, the film will move sideways, thus causing the sprocket perforations, or the dividing line between the picture and the sprocket perforations, to project over in the light source. This will naturally cause a hum. Keep sprockets and idlers clean at all times. Always before starting the sound projector adjust all meters to their respective operating values. Crackling Due to Frayed Strands From the Western Electric photo-electric cell positive terminal to the grid leak clip on the amplifier there is a very small stranded wire. The constant vibration of the projector causes the amplifier to swing. This swinging causes the strands to break in the soldered connections, but leaving only enough contact to make connection, and as the amplifier swings a crackling noise will be perceptible. It is necessary to inspect these connections very closely. Crackling noise is often caused by the l-amp. midget fuse in the photo-electric cell " B ” battery box being defective. Photo-electric ing quality is not easily explained nor indeed understood. The fact remains, that for 50s., a price including flexible and adapter, the exhibitor can get an ornamental moving device superior to anything of its type we have yet seen. Cheap and Clever Festoon Assemblies Another B.B.T. novelty consists of decorative sets of foyer lamps. These consist of 21 ft. runs of rubber-covered flex fitted with 12 Edison screw holders at intervals of 20 in. The holders can be tacked in position if desired or can be hung, without any alteration to the holder. The feature here, again, is the unusual colour effects available. The lamps are in parallel, so that the destruction of one filament does not put the rest of the 12 out of action. Individually they represent spheres of different coloured glass (not varnished or dipped), flambeaux, fruit, flowers, lanterns of several different designs and street lanterns in two different colours. These lamps are not toys but are excellently finished and capable of producing quite impressive and dignified decorative effects. The whole thing complete is sold at from 31s. 6d. to two guineas, according to the type of lamps included, and exhibitors should write for the coloured leaflet giving an impression of the effects and types procurable. Altogether this company has a range of foyer devices which is well worth the prompt attention of every exhibitor. Their address is 50, High Holbom, W.C.l. cell " B ” battery connections should always be soldered. " B ” batteries should never be tested for voltage and amperage after they have been standing idle for some time, for when standing idle they recuperate to some extent, and during the first few moments of their use they will produce a higher voltage than they will after being in use for several minutes. When 45 volt " B ” batteries drop down to 37 volts they become noisy. Even new dry “ B ” batteries may sometimes be noisy. Noisy Batteries Dry " B ” batteries should be tested for noise with a head-phone set connected in series wirh a 1-microfarad condenser. Place the tips of the leads on the battery terminals and listen for noise. Be sure that connections between battery terminals and headphones are perfectly tight, as any slight movement in connections will cause a noise in the phones, and will give an incorrect test. It is extremely important that storage batteries are not overcharged. Calculate the battery charging rate. Add the number of amperes drawn by all the tubes in the amplifiers with filaments or plates drawing current. Multiply the amperes by the number of hours of use and then add onequarter to this amount (to make up for battery efficiency). The result is divided by the number of amperes given by the charger. The division shows how many hours the charger should be operated for the number of hours the amplifiers are in use. Noisy reproduction can many times be traced to loose battery connections. It is imperative that battery straps be removed, and clean both the strap and the lug, apply a little vaseline and replace, and be positively sure that the connection is tight. Care of Sound Systems