The Cine Technician (1939)

Dec. -Jan., 1937-8 'I1 U E C I X E-T E C II X I C I \ N L78 Fio1. 5 shows this device in detail. A and B are revolving cams, driven from the main shaft C D and E are solenoid contactors which energise electro-magnets, (Fig. I, (I ,.|n,| II). attached to the stop-motion control level's on printer head and camera. The cams en this device are changeable let varying ratios ami the whole device can he mounted or dismounted in less than two minutes. Figure 6 Fig. 6 shows the wipe-over device (A) in position. 1 '> is its drive transmission gears ami (' the driving shaft. In thi' open camera can also he seen the inspection prism (D) ]nv\ ii iusIv menti< med. Figure 7 Fig. 7 is a close view of the camera unit showing a fader gear box (A) giving automatic lades from 1 up to 0 feet. Ii is the shutter hand control. (' is the stop-motion pin. This ensures that the camera always stops with the shutter completely covering the aperture, so that it is impossible to fog a frame in the middle of an effect. On the projector the reverse is the ease and the stop-motion pin locates the shutter in tlie lull open position. Figure 8 Fig. 8 is a view of the camera mounted on tie n platform for screen work and shows the method oi picking up the drive. This set-up is used for book-leaf and other flip-over effects where the action is required to continue during the transition, and is oi great advantage in the working of intricate matte shots. The machine is also provided with a connection for a flexible drive to the camera, so that it can be used on a tripod while photographing through the glass screen for swing or panoramic effects or i lei work. It is obviously impossible completely to cover such a wide subject as optica] printing in what must, ol necessity, be a short article. Should any reader require further information or desire to raise any question in connection with this article, the writer will he pleased to answer any communication either through "The Cine-Technician" or addressed to him at The Olympic [Cinematograph Laboratories Limited, School Load, N.W.10. OBITUARIES The technical side of our industry has received a great loss by the untimely death of WILLIAM C. VINTEN. one of the veterans of the film trade, whose engineering skill had been devoted for nearh 40 years to the manufacture of cinematograph machinery. "Billy" worked lor A. S. Newman, L. W. Paul and Charles Urban (Kinemacolor) before forming his own company which became limited in 1928. He greatly; helped in the internationalising of the standard dimensions of the industry; was a member of the Royal Photographic Society, the Kinematograph Manufacturers' Association, Society of .Motion Picture Engineers, and the British Kinematograph Society. Lor a number of years he built cameras, and standing as pinnacles of his fame are the Model "II" camera and one lor topical work with matched lenses, also a camera only just out of the expei'iiuental stages that will take -jut) pictures per second And Ins automatic laboratory processing plant is successfully working in many laboratories. In spite of ill-health, he always had a cheery word lor everybody and his technical help was always at the disposal of the cine-technician. lie leaves a wife, two sons, and three daughters. Charlie, his eldest son, carries mi. He has a great engineering prestige to live up to ami we feel sure the memory of his father's great skill will spur the firm of W. Vinten Ltd. to even greater heights. We technicians mourn a dear friend and skilful colleague. We also regret to report the death of our well-beloved member. PAT TOBIN. who passed away at Streatham. Pat Tobin was a well-known cameraman in Ireland, lie filmed a number of Irish productions, including "The Life ,,f St. Patrick." During the "Troubles," he was a cameraman for the Irish Events Company, and secured many amazing pictures. lie was arrested during this t line and was about to he tried lor murder, the pyro stains en Ins fingers being mistaken lor the stains on the hands ol a [rench polisher suspected ol the crime. 'I he active mi t vention of the Kine-Cameramen's Society, who obtained the support of a number of M.P's., secured his release. Coming to England, he was lor a number ol yea's ,-i Hews reel free lance. Aluonesl the events he COVCred during this period was a trip to Lome where he filmed in the Vatican. Lately he was engaged in colour cinematography, fust lor Gaspacolor and later for Spicer-Dufay. Popular with his colleagues, skilful as a tecdnn Pat will be deeply missed I >y ACT