The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

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February, 1930 59 AMONG THE PRODUCERS Where the commercial firms — whose activities have an important hearing on progress in the visual field — are free to tell their story in their own words. The Educational Screen is glad to reprint here, loithin necersary space limitations, such material as seems to have most informational and news value to onr readers ••O New Portable Sound Movie Equipment ITV/E have recently had the tW pleasure of seeing and hearig a performance by Bell and Howell's new Project-O-Phone — which stands as a practical solution to the important problem of making "talkie" equipment available to schools. There is little question of the high value and large place for talking films in American education and the Project-O-Phone comes as an immediate answer to the need. In the rear of the room, side by lide on a table, sat the picture projector and the speech playerunit. Between them, merely a flexible shaft — and the synchronization of sound and picture was kept permanent and perfect. A slender cable to the front of the room connected the dynamic speaker, invisible behind the screen, completing an equipment of the utmost simplicity. An Hour's critical watching and listening failed to reveal a flaw in the synchronization, and the total apparatus needed to produce these splendid results seems to have been reduced to its very simplest terms. But let Bell and Howell describe it in their own words. The complete Project-O-Phone outfit consists of three small units which can be easily carried from place to place. Any Filmo projector can be adapted for use in this equipment as one of the three units. (The necessary attachment is fitted to the front plate .o permit the coupling to the playing unit by means of the flexible shaft. This attachment does not interfere with the normal operation of the projector as thus equipped it can be used to show both silent or sound film at will.) The Filmo projector and play electrical pick-up and tone arm complete in a sturdily constructed case. A rectifier and three amplifier tubes are used in the amplifier which is located immediately inider the turn table and easilv Inspecting the work of the Project-O-Phone in the Bell and Howell reviewing room. ing unit are driven by separate motors, each motor designed for its special purpose. The two units, the projector and the playing unit, are then coupled together mechanically by means of a flexible shaft so that positive synchronization is assured, regardless of the length of the picture or record. A standard 16 inch phonograph record of the 33-1/3 revolutions per minute type, is perfectly synchronized with the projected pictures. The playing unit consists of a power pack, amplifier, turn table, accessible. Although the amplifier is of special design, any one can make tube replacements as they become necessary and any good radio man can take care of any repairs should they be required. The turn table and motor are mounted as a unit and suspended on springs so as to withstand the shock and hard usage of transportation. The unit is designed to operate on a 60 cycle alternating current, but where it is necessary to use it in districts where direct current only is available, the manufac