The Film Daily (1929)

unday, September 22, 1929 Theater Equipment By CHARLES P. HYNES LEATHER MASTER IS NEW HEATING, COOLING DEVICE Weather Master, a combination heating, cooling and ventilating system, will be placed on the market I soon by Arctic Nu-Air Corp. This I was announced by J. George Feinberg, chairman of the board of the company, upon his return to New York after conferences at the home office in Minneapolis, where it was pointed out that the company's business last year doubled the preceding year's gross. Feinberg, who also is president of Kooler-Aire Engineering Corp., also announced that Torridaire, a new heating unit, will soon be available. The Spinx is the name given a cooling and ventilating system, already on the market, which Arctic Nu-Air is now plugging. This is especially adapted for wired houses owing to its noiseless operation, points out Feinberg. New Acoustical Felt is Marketed by King Studios Dallas — New acoustical felt offered in banners or in rolls for acoustic treatments in houses wired for sound pictures, now are being sold by the King Studios, says W. B. King, president. The felt can be ordered in any quantity, according to King, and general literature on acoustics, usage of sound absorbant materials with a diagram on which exhibitors can indicate dimensions of their houses, are included with samples. New Lobby Case Being Marketed by National Chicago — A new lobby case consisting of a combination three sheet and photo display is being marketed by the National Theater Supply Co. It is of Italian Renaissance design finished in polychrome effects of Italian or Spanish decoration and set against a background of blue or maroon plush or Spanish leather. Attached to the back are individual frames measuring 11 by 14 and 22 by 28 and matching the case. The overall dimensions are 54 wide by 100 high, while the body is 48 by 92. The door frame is 3 inches wide and is fitted with 3 locks and 3 hinges ready for glazing. This frame can also be used for a 3-sheet display. Glass when furnished is double strength. Remodeling Boaz, Ala., House Birmingham — Col. Thomas E. Orr, of Marshall County Enterprises, is remodeling the old Rialto at Boaz. Ala. New equipment will be installed and it is Col. Orr's intention to equip his circuit for sound pictures within the next three months Entirely New Projector Built For Showing Grandeur Films Newly designed and constructed "from the ground up," is the term used to describe the Grandeur projector, manufactured by General Theatres Equipment Co., for the showing of Grandeur large-size pictures. From the very beginning of the experiments it was realized that mere magnification would solve no problems, for at certain stages the particles of emulsion in the film became visible, resulting in coarse images on the projection screen. Consequently the engineers of the Fox and General Theatres communicated with lens manufacturers in Europe and in this country, asking for a lens that would focus an image on an area twice the width of the present 35 millimeter standard film. When no such lens was forthcoming the engineers worked out their own formulae and succeeded in designing a lens they claim is the first to catch foreground and background without distortion or blurring of either, without chromatic abberation and without enlargement of any part in disproportion to all others. The film employed is 70 mms. wide. As important as the new lens has been to the development of the Grandeur projector, it does not represent all of the improvement to projection which its makers have accomplished. The sound track on the new, 70 millimeter, film is one quarter of an inch wide — thrice the width of the old. This increased width eliminates surface noises in transmitting sound (a troublesome matter with talking pictures at present) and gives three times the volume to sound as it is picked off the track. In consequence there is said to be need for only one third the amplification now used with small film, with a resulting increase in naturalness of tone. With less amplification of sound there is less distortion and the bass tones which are 'flattened' in orchestral music now have their proper timbre, it is stated. The Grandeur projector has two shutters one moving downard simultaneously with one that moves upward, thus eliminating flickering. Unlike projectors now in use, the Grandeur machine has its shutter between the arc and the film, instead of in front; this arrangement serves to keep the film cooler, giving it from three to five times more life and reducing the fire hazard. There is, also, a new type of self-religning sprocket which removes strain on the film; anc' special ball bearings which eliminate the vibration of the machine itself. A new type of intermittent permits a longer period during which the film is held stationary, while the light passes through it, and speeds up the movement from one 'frame' to another. When it was discovered that projection of wider film would require A comparison of the Grandeur film and Standard film. greater light, attempts were made to use lamps of greater amperage than 120, the strongest now used. But to increase the amperage, also increased the danger of fire. What the engineers have done for Grandeur is to design a new type of lamp of 120 amperes, but with a new distribution of its rays. Since all accessories used in handling film have heretofore been designed for 35 mm. stock, the men who have developed Grandeur have had to construct special perforators, printers, splicers, developing machines and other apparatus for the wider film. On many of these they made improvements as they went along. They have gone a step further by calling for raw film stock with larger sprocket holes and added strength to its outer edges. Eisler Electric Making Tubes for Sound Devices Newark — Eisler Electric Corp. of this city, is manufacturing tubes for sound apparatuses as well as radios, Neon Light signs, Sun Ray lamps and television devices, it is reported. Charles Eisler is president of the corporation. About 90 per cent of the independent radio tubes are manufactured by the company, it is claimed. National Offering Record Cabinet in Equipment Chicago — National Theater Supply Co. is offering a 20 shelf, steel constructed record cabinet. The shelves are covered with green felt to protect records. In addition to the shelves, the cabinet contains one drawer equipped with two needle cups and ample space for tools, and is finished in olive green. The complete cabinet sells for $65. Nu-Air for Manchester House Manchester, N. H. — In addition to other realterations on Arctic Nu-Air cooling system has been installed at the Paramount-Brown. The house is owned by Couture Bros. St. Paul House Reopened St. Paul — The Tuxedo, formerly the Cozy has been reopened after alterations. The house now seats 500. TALKING SHOP Grandeur Emphasizes Large Picture Era is Imminent — Machines on Rental Basis — Cost Seen Big Factor THE big development of the week, from the equipment standpoint, is the first presentation of Grandeur Pictures, projected by the special machine developed by General Theatres Equipment. There have been varied opinions upon the immediate effect, which Grandeur will exercise upon the industry, but a general unanimity of opinion that large pictures are in the offing. Fox has been experimenting on the new process for more than three years, and General Theatres Equipment engineers have co-operated the result is a startling innovation, which Fox terms "The Entertainment of the Future." Fox is so pleased with the success of the venture, that Grandeur projectors have been ordered for many of the company's theaters, as well as a number of Mitchell cameras for the studios. After the Fox order is filled, other theaters may contract for installations in order. General Theatres plans to manufacture the equipment on a large scale. The Grandeur projectors are to be offered to exhibitors on a rental basis, under a ten year agreement, similar to the manner in which many sound reproducing systems are leased. No indications as yet have been given as to the cost of the equipment to the theater. Meanwhile, Paramount is going ahead with Magna screen installations and RCA-Photophone is continuing experiments with the SpoorBergen process. REPACKED EASTMAN AND DUPONT FILMS 100 foot rolls, of Eastman and Dupont Panchromatic Film, on daylight loading spools for. Eyemo. or DeVry. Guaranteed absolutely perfect and fresh. $3.75 a Roll 110 West 32«'St.NcwVtor*.My Phone Penna. 0330 Motion Picture Department U. S. and Canada Agents for Debris