We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
spaced and the teeth on the sprocket-wheels were not very accurately cut. Lumiere had a better idea. He used only one pair of holes to each 'frame' and a claw, engaging in those holes, to pull the film through the mechanism. Remember, too, that he used the same mechanism indifferently as camera, as printer and as projector, so that if the holes were not accurate, the error cancelled out and the picture on the screen was remarkably steady. The trouble was that this method could only be used with very short films; the inertia of a larger roll could not be overcome quickly enough by the claw without tearing and destroying the film. Steadiness depends upon 'registration5 — upon each successive frame coming into place and occupying exactly the same position as the previous one. Lumiere's method died; we reverted to fourhole perforation and, with better workmanship, secured steadiness in the end.
Our railway scenes perhaps led naturally to other scenic possibilities and the catalogue now owns to several fifty-footers of the Departure of a Steamer variety, which bring us to No. 68 in the list. No. 69, however, is Mud Larks — a number of urchins scrambling for pennies thrown to them, and that argues incipient 'direction.' Then we have a Macaroni Eating Competition which is evidently 'directed,' though there is still no trace of a stage. Then the call for comic pictures became insistent. We were quick to respond to it — and the river was just round the corner. Two men fishing from a boat, quarrelling over the jug of beer and finally falling over into the water — shrieks of laughter! Me, in long skirt of fashionable lady's costume, seated at the back of a punt being towed by a steam launch, tipping over backwards when the tow-rope tightens! More shrieks, but it is exceedingly difficult to swim in boots and trousers and a long skirt over the lot!
Then when each 'epic' of this sort was finished we went on the road and tried to sell it, came back and printed the copies for which we had taken orders, posted them, and then sat back and said, 'Well boys t What about another subject? How would it be to — ?' and so on. Always we were glad that we dealt in a trade whose product was small and light, like jewellery, and presented no difficulties of transport. I often think of this when I see a storeroom filled with hundreds of iron transit-cases and the many tons of films a dealer must handle today.
47