Home Movies (1944)

PAGE 4 HOME MOVIES FOR JANUARY The Reader SPEAKS Correction Sirs: I wish to thank you for bringing to my attention, the slight error made in the diagram of the 16mm. film magazine recently submitted by me and published in "The Reader Speaks" column of the October issue. I regret the draftsman's oversight in transcribing the rough sketch submitted to him. I am enclosing a photograph herewith showing the correct method for threading film in this magazine. — Edward Flutot. PostWar Camera Sirs: Joseph Lenser spoke for a lot of movie amateurs in his article in the November issue. His idea of a "basic" camera to which improvements such as windback, lens turret, etc., that can be added later, is a sound idea. Such a camera would overcome all sales resistance on the premise that the camera owner's initial investment would not have to be sacrificed to some extent at a later date when his desire grew, and his pocketbook permitted the refinements that otherwise could be had only by trading his camera in on another make or model. — Edward Brown, Long Beach, Calif. Sirs: That guide pin provision in the post-war camera suggested by Joseph Lenser in last issue is a dilly of an idea. Take it from a movie bug who has encountered all sorts of difficulty lining up his camera with title cards, here is the one simple but foolproof method that assures titler alignment — and so simple for the manufacturer to provide, too. — John Bannister, Boston, Mass. Sirs: I like the suggestion, offered in your article in last month's issue, that the post-war camera provide for use of either spools or magazines of film. Magazines, which the amateur himself could load with film indoors would put an end to the troublesome red light-flashes often so noticeable along the margins of Kodachrome that is loaded or unloaded in daylight. — Garrett Smith, St. Louis, Mo. Windback for Revere Sirs: In the July, 1943 issue of HOME MOVIES there appeared an article by H. D. Hamill describing a method of making a windback and frame counter for a Keystone "8" cine camera. I am interested in a similar attachment for my Revere "8 8" and am wondering if you have published an article previously on how to construct same. If not, will appreciate hearing from any HOME MOVIES reader who can supply suggestions or working diagrams. — James E. Young c/o Federal-Mogul Corp., Detroit, Mich. • Readers who have constructed such gadgets for the Revere are invited to submit details to HOME MOVIES or directly to Mr. Young. — Ed. Backwinding Magazines Sirs: I have been a constant reader of HOME MOVIES for the past three years and at last I have come to a problem which I cannot find solved in any of the thirty-six issues I have on file. Do you people or any of your readers have the dope on a backwind or a method of backwinding film in 16mm. film magazines? — Robert Howard, Grosse Pointe, Mich. • We know of no instance where this has successfully been accomplished, still, some exploring cinebug may have the answer to this problem. If so, HOME MOVIES invites his correspondence. —Ed. This Interest You? Sirs: I would like to contact some reader interested in motion picture printing, using the projector as the printer. In my own experimentation, I have met with considerable success in this manner, by replacing the regular projection lamp with a less brilliant 7l/2 watt lamp, which serves as the printing light. I wonder if any movie maker has ever tried using a sound projector to duplicate sound film in this fashion, with the photo electric cell exciter lamp being used to print the sound track? — James R. Oswald, 1646 W. 10 1st St., Chicago, III. Film Coupling Idea Sirs: When several films are to be shown in one evening, a smoother program will result if films are spliced together on large reels, obviating need for frequent interruption of the program for re-threading, etc. This, of course, if your projector allows for larger reels. On one hand, repeated splicing and breaking apart of reels of film in combination programs rapidly eat up trailer and leader until they must be replaced and perhaps a frame or more of the picture itself lost in these operations. Another method is to provide a leader and trailer of opaque film stock for all pictures, these to be not over two inches long. Cut each leader and trailer squarely across at exactly midway between sprocket holes or what would be the center of one frame. In addition, prepare one leader and one trailer six feet in length, timming one end of each in middle of one frame area as with the short leaders and trailers. Insert pointed end of long leader into slot of takeup reel, then butt (do not overlap!) the newly cut square end to end of short leader attached to the first film to be shown. Make sure leaders are both shiny side up and in accurate alignment as to sprocket holes. Apply a short strip of l/4 -inch scotch tape over the joint and trim off evenly with edge of film with a razor blade, thus completing a temporary splice. If splice is to last for more than a single showing of the films, apply another strip of scotch tape to the joint on opposite side of film. Repeat this temporary splicing procedure for rest of the pictures, winding the film on a temporary takeup reel, and finally adding the six foot trailer to end of last picture. A professional-like screening of pictures will result. There will be no flash cf light between time of starting projector and appearance of title and scenes of first picture, nor will any light flashes or lengthy trailer delays occur between the end of one picture and the beginning of another. After the show, the scotch tape may readily be removed from the films should it b» necessary to re-spool them on individual reels. — Lotus J. Milnt, Philadelphia, Penna.