The Cine Technician (1938-1939)

Sept. -October, 1938 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 91 LAB TOPICS DRYING THE FILM To the amateur photographer drying the film is the simplest operation in the world ; just hang it up and walk away. But to the technician engaged in drying 1,000,000 feet of film a week it is not at all so simple. The processes of washing and drying are combined in the department, and to begin with, when the film is "dry" it mustn't be dry. A certain proportion of humidity must be left in the film (approx 15%) or it would be too brittle and would break too easily and wear too rapidly. To this end the temperature of the drying cabinet is carefully controlled and must be maintained at the required figure of 85° F. to 90° F. When the technician comes on duty, he must first check the temperatures, examine the cabinets in his charge to see that they are threaded or "laced" up correctly, adjust the water supply to the washing tanks, inspect the log book to see if any faults are reported on his units. He will then proceed with the daily routine clean-up, consisting of wiping over all parts of the machine and polishing any metal work, cleaning the glass doors of the cabinets, mopping the floor, etc. If, as often happens, the film is running through the machine he will carefully examine this ; first at the inspection light or "light box" as it emerges from the dark room. He will see that both prints are on the film (picture and sound) and that they are of approximately correct density ; that is, if either record is much too light or too dark he will immediately report to the dark room ; he will also see the film is completely "fixed." Further on, as the film leaves the wash, he examines the emulsion surface for scratches or "trill." "Frilling" results from faulty alignment of one or more of the rollers over which the film passes and usually renders it useless. He then passes on to the "blower," a device lor ridding the film of surplus moisture before it enters the cabinet, noting whether it is running through in correct position and the air blast is acting evenly and completely. The cabinet door is now opened and both sides of the film are inspected for damage ; with the surface water removed and before the drying process is complete it is possible to see the most minute faults of all descriptions. It can be diagnosed with certainty here whether the fault lies with the developing or the printing machine. The drying room operative must recognise developer scratches, printer scratches, oil marks, "rough edge," stains, sludge, bad contact, bad light changes, out-ofmask, stress marks, static, faulty coating, etc. Having assured himself that all is well so far, he looks to the "takeup" and sees that the tension is correct and that the last roller over which the film passes is rotating and not scratching. If ho discovers any fault, he telephones the dark room to put the machine out of action and the mechanic's shop to come and put it right. By now he will have to take a reel off, put it in a tin, mark the machine number on the lid, and mark the reel off on the "tally." All faults on the machine have to be entered in the log book provided for the purpose. The date, hour, machine number, particulars of damage, and action taken all have to be reported. He is also responsible, under the foreman's instruction, for the conduct of toning and tinting operations. He sees the film is toned or tinted to the specified depth, and maintains the bath at the requisite strength. Occasioanlly an over dense reel will be sent to him for reduction, when he will obtain the necessary bath and perform the operation. From the foregoing it will be seen that the competent drying room man can save much time and material by keen attention to his duties and by giving early warning of faults. Much expensive damage is otherwise invisible until after development and drying and would continue until checked. MEETING WITH EMPLOYERS Further discussion between A.C.T. officials and the employers regarding the Lab. section agreement is taking place on Sept. 12th. It is expected that the talks will be concluded very shortly and the long awaited agreement signed. In this connection it is interesting to read the reports in the Press of the number of agreements concluded in other trades in recent months. One of the latest to be negotiated is between the Optical Makers Section of the X.U.I). AAV. and a private employer. Reduced hours without; loss of pay, special overtime rates, holidays with pay, and recognition of the Union have been secured. This employer had developed a price cutting policy which was leading to keener competition between the manufacturers with the result that they too were attempting to reduce the wages and conditions of their employees. A.C.T. is your only safeguard against similar actions in the Labs. TRADE UNIONISM Some of our members could with advantage examine the principles and practice of trade unionism more closely. To be a member of a trade union confers great benefits impossible of attainment by the individual. But it also incurs responsibilities for the individual; tersely summed up in the old tag, "each for all and all for each": read this slowly and absorb the full meaning. In other words, in spite of the apparent success of occasional bits of "smart alecking" it is quite definitely impossible to get "something for nothing." If you want to improve your pay and conditions, think also how you can bring improvement to the man working beside you, below you, and even above you. Improvement will certainly come, but it can only come for all. Stop thinking quite so much about your own job. Take a glance at the other fellah, he may be worse off than you. Your "rights" are just as important as anybody else's; but not more important. Take a look, while you're about it, at the illustration to the story on another page of the T.U.C. Exhibit at the Olasgow: Exhibition. That shows you what can be done. PRINTING SOUND Comments on the excellent quality of sound reproduced by 16 mm. by optical reduction from 35 mm. negs. reopen the question of 35mm. printing by optical means. The problem dealt with here is that of "slip." Printing optically allows more perfect compensation for neg. shrinkage. Other means of eliminating "slip" are by using the neg. to pull the pos., as in the R.CA. U.V. Printer. The neg. is approximately .001 mms. per inch shorter than raw stock. So in 1,000 feet 12 inches has been allowed for. If "slip" was completely eliminated in contact printing we should be 12 inches out of sync, at the end of 1,000 feet. There seems to be something to be said for optical reproduction. GAMMA