Home Movies (1946)

• Fig. 3 — At opposite end of room, the projector is concealed by this booth which also houses turntables, room dimming switch and the lomoie control for operating the curtain. The projection "booth" is not really a booth at all but simply a panel behind which are placed the projector and turntables, plus all the remote control switches for operating them as well as the curtains, lights, etc. Attached to back of this panel is a light baffle which extends out over the top of the projector, effectively blocking the light which otherwise would cast an objectionable glare on the 545 ceiling. A small table, together with a high stool provides for the comfort of the operator while the show is on. There are some interesting gadgets within this projection booth, too, all built by Mr. Feinauer, which opens and closes the stage curtains by remote control and dims the room lights. Operating the curtain was originally done by turning a small hand crank which controlled cords leading to the stage. These cords travelled through a hole drilled in the living room floor, thence along the cellar ceiling and emerged again through the living room floor at a point near the portable stage. Eventually this cumbersome, and not too dependable, arrangement was replaced by the present electrical control. Now the curtain is opened and closed by a gadget motivated by a small Erector toy motor which can be made to operate either forward or in reverse. This is shown in Fig. 6. The gadget is portable and placed back of the stage when it is to be used. The remote control switch is housed in a small box, shown in Fig. 5, and is placed conveniently beside the projector. Throwing the switch to one position opens the curtains; flipping it in the opposite direction closes them. This box is made from short pieces of board with a hard pressed masonite cover. In the cover is fitted the d.p.d.t. radio switch which controls the curtain. Also on the cover is a standard electric plate that accommodates a switch and pilot light such as used in homes to indicate when the cellar light is burning, etc. This small pilot lamp serves to light up the projection booth for threading films and changing records. Not shown in the photograph is an outlet on the side for plugging in the projector, so that when the pilot light is on, power is furnished to the projector. This necessitates two wires entering the rear of the box, one a duplex which is plugged into the handiest wall outlet, and the other a four-wire conductor which leads to the motor box behind the screen. The box is 5"x5"x}/^" deep and has a piece of felt glued to the bottom so that it will not scratch highly polished table surfaces. The motor box (Fig. 6) rests on the floor behind the screen. The four-wire cable from the control box enters at the top right. Emerging from two slots in the top left are a white cord to open the curtain, and a red cord for closing. Essentially it consists of a removable double spool, on one side of which is wound the red cord and on the other the white. Erector toy parts were used throughout to furnish the bracket which holds the spool horizontal and at right angles to the motor. A small worm gear on the motor shaft drives a spur gear on a shaft below, which in turn transmits power to a secondary gear in mesh with • Continued on Pn^e 571 • Fig. A — Mr. Feinauer ingeniously devised this room light dimming device, using four standard Dim-A-Lites which are controlled in unison by the single operation of the dial. • Fig. 5 (below) — This tiny box encloses a double-pole double-throw switch which operates the reversible motor that opens and closes the curtains. • Fig. & — Here is shown the two-directional motor and the geared mechanism by which the stage curtain is opened and closed when a switch is thrown in the projection booth.