Home Movies (1944)

PACE 286 HOME MOVIES FOR JULY THE EXPERIMENTAL Film Notcher To facilitate quick and accurate notching of film in the darkroom, I purchased an inexpensive ticket punch giving a triangle-shaped perforation, and attached to it the metal guide shown in illustration. This guide is a piece of sheet metal with a slot cut in center. This is soldered to the lower jaw of the punch, leaving the upper jaw to move freely. Guide is so placed as to permit edge of film to enter jaws of punch only a fraction of an inch — just enough to receive the top of the punch knife yet permit adequate punch mark to be made on edge of film. This device is handy for marking beginning or end of scene when making lap-dissolves, double exposures, etc., with cameras not fitted with a backwind ; also, for identifying certain sections of film in the darkroom during processing. Running finger along edge of film quickly locates the identifying notches. — B. C. Cool, Calgary, Alta., Canada. Static Eliminator The static created by some projector motors is often a source of annoyance where recordings are played through a radio-phonograph or amplifier with projection of films. Where the radio or amplifier picks up such electrical in PROJCCTOR MOTOR CONDCNSERS SWITCH A/VWWI fiHeosrar terference, same may be eliminated with two condensers wired as shown in diagram. This shows method followed in eliminating motor static from a Keystone R-8 projector, and applicable to most other makes and models. Remove projector base plate to reveal wiring to motor. Insert one of the i MFD condensers between one of the motor leads and the projector frame, and do the same with the second condenser — cutting it in between the second motor lead and frame as shown. The i MFD condensers used were 200 volt — the paper type being preferred to the electrolytic. Where 1 MFD condensers are unobtainable, .25 MFD condensers may be used. These are obtainable from radio service stores. Herbt. O. Chrysler, Homer, N. Y. PROJECTOR. CRSE Splicer Mounting The emergency splicer supplied with Eastman projectors can be mounted on inside of projector case lid for greater convenience of use along with bottle of cement and water as shown in accompanying sketch. Thus, the unit is always ready for use should a break occure in the film during projection. The splicer may be attached by means of small screws and the pressure plate slipped beneath the splicer when not in use. A strip of leather or elastic, when obtainable, secured at one corner of lid, as shown, provides holder for bottles of cement and water. — L. E. Melvin, Buffalo, N. Y. Light Baffle To prevent escape of annoying light from projectors with a round lamp-house top, obtain an empty tin can of the same diameter as top of lamphouse, cut TIN CRN a wide slot near the bottom, as shown at A in diagram and a one inch slit at top as shown at B, and invert the can over the lamp house with the open slot facing away from the screen. The slit will permit expanding open end of can or pinching it together to form a snug fit over top of lamphouse. The slot A for escaping heat should be at least 1 inch in width and extend about half-way around the can. — Jos. Brodny, Oakland, Calif. Syncing Sound A stroboscope with 77 segements, such as sold commercially for timing a 78 r.p.m. turntable operating on 50 cycle current, when placed on a 33-1/3 r.p.m. turntable, enables obtaining synchronization between turntable and projector operating at 16 f.p.s. by utilizing the intermittent flashes from the projector as the light for the stroboscope. Perfect as this idea may appear, I was many times disappointed when trying to synchronize recordings with such 8mm. commercial film releases as Castle's and Official Films', because these films were originally photographed at sound speed of 24 f.p.s. When an attempt was made to synchronize these pictures by using the 77 segement stroboscope, the movies would always run too slow. Quite by accident, I found that by substituting the regulation 78 r.p.m. stroboscope of 92 segements for use with 60 cycle current, synchronization between the commercial 8 mm. film subjects and the music will result. — Kenneth Carlson, Cincinnati, Ohio.