International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1939)

^nowWhite steady, brilliant light (essential to proper projection of color pictures) . . . MORE light at LESS cost per unit calls for STRONG PROJECTION ARC LAMPS For sale by Independent Theatre Supply Dealers everywhere. Demonstration without obligation. Write today for free catalog on Strong unconditionally guaranteed products . . . your guide to better projection. STRONG ELECRICCOHPOHATION 2501 LAGRANGE STREET • TOLEDO, OHIO Export Office. Room 2002, 220 W. 42nd St, New York Oiiy PREPARE NOW YOUR PLANS FOR MODERNIZING With Simplified High Intensity Projection, non-pulsating, uniform current control is doubly important Secure it ... as thousands of other theatres have done . . . with the TRANSVERTER Quiet . . . dependable . . . lifelong in operation. Sold through The National Theatre ytyhfiJnlMlsify Supply Co . In Canada, General "^J^J j|g£^ Theatre Supply Co.; or write us THE HERTNER ELECTRIC CO. 12692 Elmwood Avenue Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A. Exclusive Manufacturers of the Transverter that acetate film was not as strong mechanically as nitrocellulose film and that it became brittle with use. Difficulty in the projection of the acetate film was experienced partly because of the inferior quality of the film but also because of the inferior projection equip ment of that day and the rough handling to which the film was subjected. Although some improvements ensued in film, in projection equipment, and in handling, the motion picture producers asked in 1911 to be released from their agreement to use only cellulose-acetate film. Thus, in less than two years, the Eastman first attempt to substitute slowburning cellulose-acetate film for nitrocellulose film came to an end. This attempt failed, not because of lack of co-operation on the part of the motion picture producers, but because of the failure of the cellulose-acetate film toperform satisfactorily under the conditions to which it was subjected. The period from 1911 to 1922 was one of research, education, and co-operation: research in methods of making the production, distribution, and exhibition of motion pictures safe to the public and the workers involved; education of everyone involved in these activities, including not only the industries themselves but also the fire departments, transportation companies, and public officials, local, state, and national; and. finally, complete co-operation which resulted from these research and educational undertakings. With the return in 1911 to the production and use of nitrocellulose film for the motion picture industry, Eastman co-operated wholeheartedly with the motion picture producers, the national and local boards of underwriters, the National Fire Protection Association, and the various governmental bureaus and administrators, in the development of devices and methods to control the fire hazard in the production, distribution, and use, of cellulose-nitrate film for motion pictures. Although in a period of five years — 1912 to 1917— the reports of the N. Y. City Fire Dept. show that film was the cause of only 12/100ths of one per cent of the number of fires in N. Y. City, and 28/100ths of one per cent of the losses by fire, the potential hazard in the use of the film was realized. As a first official step, ordinances were passed, at the instigation of the boards of fire underwriters, to make the projection of motion pictures in the theatres safe for the public. • U. S. Government Survey Following the Ferguson Building fire in Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 1909, the U. S. Geological Survey made a thorough investigation to determine the probable causes. From this investigation, and from laboratory tests, it was concluded that the explosion accompanying that fire was caused by the ignition of gases generated under pressure in a closed, unvented vault in which a quantity of nitrocellulose film decomposed after being ignited by the breaking of an electric light bulb. This explosion did not occur in the vault, but the gases which escaped into an adjoining room formed an explosive mixture with the air of the room and were ignited by a fire burning outside the vault. The laboratory tests made at that time confirmed these conclusions and proved that nitrocellulose film is not explosive; and proved, furthermore, that the gases generated by film decomposition at atmospheric pressure are of a low inflammability, but that, if the film decomposes under pressure, the gases gener 22 I JVTER1V ATION AL PROJECTIONIST