Home Movies (1944)

PAGE 22 HOME MOVIES FOR JANUARY title caeo rnt> me S/VF VIEW FRONT VIEW cur HfRF^ I ROUND WOODEN BLOCK SCROLL VEV/CF FOR SMALL TITLFRS Scroll Titles] If yours is a small typewriter titler, you can make a simple scroll title device as shown in accompanying sketch, using materials easily procured around home. The revolving drum is made from a discarded round rolled oats carton. Measure off a length of the carton to correspond with width of your titler frame. Carefully cut off this length, making sure it is the end of carton with the bottom cap attached. Glue lid over open end and allow to dry. From a piece of round wood dowel i to i 1 2 inches in diameter, cut two discs % inch thick. Bore a 1 16 inch hole in center of each disc. Determine exact center of ends of the cardboard drum, and make a pencil mark. Glue wooden disks over center marks. Next step is to build a support to hold the drum. Construct this by cutting a block of 1 inch pine slightly wider than width of drum. Nail two upright pieces at either side, as shown in sketch. These first should be measured and pierced to receive the drum axle. For the drum axle, use a length of stout wire. Force this through holes drilled in upright, wooden discs, and the drum ends. Apply small amount of glue or cement around wire to secure it to the wooden discs. PASS 'EM ALONG Those ideas for gadgets, tricks or shortcuts in filming, titling, editing or processing home movies — pass them on to fellow cinebugs through these columns. For each idea published, you'll receive two new projection reels. Write description of your ideas plainly and when possible accompany it with a photo, sketch or diagram. There's no limit on number of ideas you may submit. Ideas not immediately published will be held for possible future publication unless they duplicate ideas previously submitted. Important: Be sure to mention whether your cine equipment is 8mm. or 16mm. so we may promptly forward award adaptable to your use. THE BX H I! 1 11 1, Eend wire to form a handle and the gadget is complete. A smoother scroll action will result if a short length of spring wire is attached to base of the device, as shown at "A," and bent to press lightly against the drum as it rotates. This braking action will have a steadying effect on the rotary movement of the drum. — Barton McKim, Toledo, Ohio. Waitime Camera Spools Some of the 8mm. black and white film now being made available is wound on flimsy tin spools some of which are not machined accurately to fit the spool shaft of cameras. I discovered that this fault can be remedied by simply inserting a small piece of cardboard or heavy paper inside the spool hub which will SMALL PIECE OF CARDBOARD HERE cause the spool to fit the takeup shaft snugly. This applies, of course, only when these "wartime" spools must be used on the film takeup shaft. — Fred Robertson, Pcnighkeepsie, N. Y. Titler Extension Typewriter titlers may be used to photograph titles larger than those provided by the original title card holder. If you wish to make titles from larger title cards that permit use of block letters, etc., mount the typewriter titler on a panel of plywood the length desired. If, for example, you wish to shoot title cards 9 by 12 inches in size, the board must be approximately 40 inches in length to provide the distance of 30" between camera lens and title card required for a title card of this size. Before mounting titler on board, cut a hole in board about 4 inches in diameter at a point that will be immediately beneath the titler tripod screw when mounted. This will permit freedom in attaching camera to titler. Mount a rectangular panel of plywood for the title board at opposite end of baseboard, making it rigid by means AUXILIARY LENS MUST BE CHANGED SCREWS ^ HOLE IN BASEBOARD EXTENDING TYPEWRITER TITLER of small angle wood or metal braces. Title cards may be mounted on board by thumbtacks or a slotted frame may be added to receive and hold them in place. It will be necessary to replace the auxiliary lens, originally fitted to the typewriter titler, with another of the required focusing limits for the distance established between camera lens and title card. Twelve inches between camera lens and title card, for example, will require a 3.25 diopter auxiliary lens; 20 inches, a 2 diopter lens, and 32 inches, a 1.25 diopter lens. With some typewriter titlers, it may also be necessary to mount them on a block before mounting them on the baseboard in order to provide sufficient elevation for the camera to take in the lower limits of the larger title card. — Dunne Cnssidy, Grnnd Rapids, Mich. Novel Film Drum Amateurs interested in tinting short lengths of film need not trouble to build a developing rack or drum for the purpose. Instead, a gallon-size glass jug may be used for the purpose. Thorough FILM SUPPORT TOR TINTING