Home Movies (1942)

PAGE 238 HOME MOVIES FOR JUNE THE EXPERIHEKTIL Conversion Photo shows how I converted my 8mm. Keystone L-8 projector to take 400 foot reels, and yet fit the original projector carrying case. Necessary materials for this job consisted of one aluminum bar 6^/4" wide and Ys" thick; two y/' bolts with wing nuts and lock washers; and four Yz" bolts and nuts. Tools required were hack saw, drill, pliers and a screwdriver. Others who own this model projector may easily add this improvement as follows: Remove projector handle and use frame where handle was connected to take its place. Cut both reel arms at the mid-way point, then cut aluminum bar so as to have two pieces, one measuring lYz" long for the upper arm and the other 3 Yz^' in length for the lower or take-up arm. File corners of one end of each bar in a semi-circular shape to allow free play when folding out of place. Drill three holes in each bar: one on the rounded end for the bolt and wing nut and two holes at the opposite end to match similar holes drilled in the cutoff sections of the reel arms. File a IF YOU have an idea for a gadget, trick or shortcut in filming, titling, editing or processing home movies, pass it on to your fellow cinebugs through these columns. If your idea is published you will receive two reels for your efforts. Extraordinary ideas will net you a roll of film. Ideas not published will be held for future publications unless they duplicate ideas previously received. Endeavor also to send along photos or rough sketches illustrating your suggestions. There is no limit to number of suggestions you may submit. Important: When submitting ideas, be sure to mention whether equipment you use is 8 mm. or 16 mm., enabling us to promptly forward awards adaptable to your use. groove in center of each aluminum bar section to match impression in reel arms. This serves to keep bar in rigid position when locked in place. Replace take-up belt with a longer one. The original upper belt may be used with the extended arms but the belt retainer must be bent out about Yz" and a small piece of metal soldered to it. Only a slight change in the carrying case is necessary to accommodate the re-vamped projector. Remove supporting block attached to door and replace it at a point about 3 Y2" from bottom of case and i Y2" away from right hand side. Drill another hole in case door and use Y/' bolt with wing nut to hold 400-ft. projection reel. The hinge shown attached to lamphouse acts as shield against stray light emitted from film aperature. It may be folded back to permit threading, then returned to position after projector is started. —Robert L. CantiUo, Bronx, N. Y. Sr/U CAM£RA SOWffi Centering Gadget A gadget for centering camera lens on titles or small objects for ultracloseup photography can be fashioned from an old still camera viewfinder mounted to fit your camera lens as shown here. The two fittings necessary may easily be turned by hand. The fitting A may be made of brass, aluminum, or other soft metal, turned on a lathe or filed to shape then threaded to fit the lens barrel. The fitting B can be made from a strip of any light metal about r 16" in thickness and bent to shape as shown. This fitting is then attached to fitting A by means of a small screw as shown. Next step is to screw the assembly into the lens until it stops. Then adjust fitting B until it is truly vertical and solder in place. Solder the angular viewfinder to member B as shown, making sure it is accurately centered with the camera lens. Thereafter the unit may be screwed into place in the lens with assurance that it will be in perfect alignment and thus render perfect centering of objects to be photographed at close range. — Arthur j. Mack, Ithaca, N. Y. Cement Applicator An improvement over the customary brush applicator for film cement is a "speedball" lettering pen which applies cement evenly and in just the right amount to make a clean firm splice, free from slopped-over cement. "Speedball" lettering pens are used by showcard writers and are available in two types — round and square point. Use the square point pen for applying cement. These pens are available for a few cents from any stationary or artists' supply store. — Russell A. Meyer, Oakland, Calif. Range Finder Photograph below shows Eastman Magazine Cine Kodak fitted with a Kodak Service Range Finder. Attachment was facilitated by purchasing regular finder Clip (Eastman's No. 76268) and fitting it to camera by removing one of the screws in the camera viewfinder housing and then attaching clip at this point with one of the screws furnished with it. With the clip thus secured with but one screw, it has a tendency to turn. To overcome this, a flat piece of steel, Y/' thick, was attached to back of rangefinder in such a manner as to prevent any movement; the piece of steel resting firmly against camera case. — Charles ). Czech, North Troy, Neu York