International projectionist (Jan 1941-Dec 1942)

on the glass but was "sputtered" onto the curved plate of inert metal which forms the cathode of all modern cells. Then it was found that the cell would increase in efficiency if the active layer were made thinner. Finally the active layer was reduced to the ultimate theoretical thinness — a mono-molecular layer — and that produced the maximum efficiency in photo-cells. Means were found to create mono-molecular layers in mass production. It is not so difficult to produce a mono-molecular layer in some practical applications. A drop of oil placed on a surface of water or watery material will not remain a drop of oil. The oil will spread as thinly as it can over the entire surface of the water and produce a scum so thin in proportion to the size of a wave-length of light that the light will be reflected in a rainbow of different colors. Use little enough oil and a large enough surface of water, and the oil will spread and spread until it has attained a mono-molecular layer beyond which it can't spread, but must break up into drifting patches of oil. Result: the Coated Lens Although this is not the method of obtaining mono-molecular layers in photo-cell manufacture, it does serve as an example of the basic idea of a monomolecular layer. Practical manufacturing processes are more complicated but produce essentially the same result. And such processes were first worked out for quantity production of the ordinary theatre photo-electric cell. Later, these processes and related procedures, including a variation of the old oil-on-water technique, were worked out for investigations in pure science, MURDER— BY YELLOW LIGHT Postmen carrying mail to America's theatres recently must have gained the impression that a vendetta was in progress among exhibitors. All theatres equipped with low-intensity projection arc lamps received a "blood-stained" dagger to wh''ch was attached a tag with the inscriotion, "Are You Guilty of Murder by Yellow Light?" The dagger (rubber), which had been dipped in red lacquer, was mailed as part of the advertising promotion by National Theatre Supply Co. for Simplex High projection arc lamps. The "murder" referred to was that of fine pictures which are projected by the dim, yellow light of lowintensity lamps. ALTEC ADVANCES PETERSON In line with its promotion-from-the-ranks policy, Altec Service has moved D. A. Peterson, formerly supervisor in the Philadelphia district, to a branch managership in the same district, under E. 0. Wilschke. where they will produce astonishing practical results one of these days. Of immediate importance to projectionists is one of the first of those practical results — the coated projection lens. Here the old observation of the English photographers confers routine benefits in the modern theatre. Monomolecular or nearly mono-molecular layers can now be produced on lenses at will. And such lenses are more efficient, just as the old-timers found when dirt or tarnish produced the result by accident. Such lenses transmit more light, reflect less from their surfaces. All glass surfaces involve a light loss by reflection of roughly 8 per cent per surface. With a lens artificially and intentionally "tarnished" by a transparent mono-molecular, or nearly so, coating, that formerly inevitable reflection loss is cut approximately in half. And today's projection lenses can be so coated, accurately and scientifically, as a matter of routine. Erpi Merged With W.E.; New Export Division Created Electrical Research Products, Inc., has been merged into its parent company, Western Electric Co. and its domestic activities hereafter will be carried on as the ERPI Division of the Western Electric Co. T. K. Stevenson, former president of ERPI, becomes vicepresident of W.E., continuing in charge of this activity. In addition, he will have direction of the general accounting, treasurer's and secretary's departments of the parent company, and has also been elected a director of W.E. The ownership of the foreign subsidiaries of ERPI has been transferred to a new company to be known as the Western Electric Export Corp., of which Mr. Stevenson will be president. Operating head of the new company will be E. S. Gregg, whose title will be VicePresident and General Foreign Manager. Mr. Gregg has been identified with the foreign activities of ERPI since the comoany's formation in 1927. and for the last several years has held the title of General Foreign Manager. Despite the dislocation of foreign trade and import restrictions in several countries, the Company's foreign business has shown a marked exoansion, theatre owners cut off from European sources of supply having turned to American manufacturers for equipment. FRPI was originallv set un in 1926 to handle W.E. activities outside of the telephone industry, and it has principally been devoted to the development of the application of sound to motion pictures, in which it has been an important factor. The change in corporate set-up does not involve any change in the character or method of conducting this business; but for some time it has been felt that these activities could be carried on more satisfactorily through the establishment of the closest possible relationship with the parent company, W.E. As a first step in this direction, ERPI's offices in 1937 were consolidated with those of W.E. at 195 Broadway, N. Y. City. In addition to Mr. Stevenson, present officers of ERPI will continue their responsibilities in the new division of Western Electric. Tube Industry's Problems Are Cited by RCA Manager The tube industry's problems will be more serious not only because of limitations imposed by materials shortages, but even more so by the industry's lack of adequate production facilities and trained personnel, according to a statement by L. W. Teegarden, Manager of RCA's Tube Division. To date, he added, all of the government's defense requirements for receiving tubes have been met promptly by RCA. These requirements have represented only 6% of the company's total production. At the current production rate, 12% to 15% of total receiving tube production is devoted to defense requirements, and, in Mr. Teegarden's opinion, this percentage will inevitably increase. Power and special purpose tubes, however, present a totally different picture, he said. Tremendous demands for these tubes, on which the industry has had little or no experience, are being imposed on the industry by the defense program. RCA has responded by greatly increasing production during the past year. The company is building 357% more power tubes, 147% more cathode-ray tubes and 256% more special purpose tubes than a year ago. Five-Fold Production Rise In these categories shipments during October were 71% for defense purposes, with every indication that the percentage required for this purpose will increase substantially in the near future. Eased on present available estimates, demand in 1942 will be five to six times the value of RCA's 1941 shipments, which are already 2% times the 1940 total. Enormous problems remain to be surmounted in the future, Mr. Teegarden indicated, adding that no one in the industry is in a position to predict accurately the available supplies of any types in the coming months. He said that slackening of commercial demand for receiving tubes is probable in the future in view of indications of further government curtailment of radio receiving set output. REPUBLIC-RCA LICENSE PACT A 10-year film recording license agreement negotiated in 1938 between Republic Productions, Inc., and RCA Photophone, has been revised to provide for a substan* 20 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST