International projectionist (Jan 1943-Dec 1944)

Letters to the Editor To the Editor of I. P. I have just finished reading the article, '"A Complete Study on the Prevention of Film Damage." by Henry B. Sellwood, which appeared in your July 1943 issue. I think such articles are of great benefit to the craft and hope that you will publish more of them. I am afraid, however, that they are apt to be passed up by those projectionists who would profit most by them. It seems to me that Mr. Sellwood has left out one very important reason for film damage, and that is careless rewinding of reels, by both projectionists and exchanges. If you will examine a carelessly rewound reel you will find layers of film projecting, which, when handled or shipped, will crack or chip. Also, in his article he states "You also may find that your fire shutter has dropped." I am unable to understand how a fire shutter dropping can damage film, and look forward to an explanation in a subsequent issue of I. P. Howard B. Smith Springfield, Mass. (ED.'S NOTE: Mr. Smith has made a good point in stating that careless rewinding of film causes film damage. Misalignment between successive layers may result from eccentric shafts upon ivhich the reel is being rewound and the takeup reel. In addition to using only straight reels, the reminder should be carefully inspected to make certain that the shafts are concentric with respect to each other and are in alignment. Film layers should be smooth and not even a single layer should project. Regarding Smith's comment on the dropping of the fire shutter: This would be the result of too large a loop above the picture gate and not the cause of film damage. In the upper part of many mechanisms there is a trip which will drop the fire shutter when the loop is too large. It is possible for the film to slap against this trip and prevent it from operating. This slapping may also scratch the film or damage the edges. If, however, this trip is properly adjusted and free in action, the film damage will be minimized, as the trip will operate quickly when the loop is too large. We appreciate the comments of this reader and we welcome similar letters. It is in this way that we all progress and the editor admits that regardless of the care taken in the preparation of an article, he is by no means infallible.) To the Editor of I. P. I enjoy your magazine immensely, particularly the articles by Leroy Chadbourne. I am a projectionist in a small theatre that was equipped with Simplex Sound AM-142 previous to my employ ment here, and I believe this circuit was described in Mr. Chadbourne's articles for April 1943, (Figure 2), and May 1943, (Figure 1). I should like to know whether or not I am correct in assuming that the schematics mentioned in the aforementioned two issues are of the Simplex Sound Circuit AM-142. D. M. Decker Deckerville, Mich. (ED.'S NOTE: Mr. Decker is correct in his assumption.) MARSHALL GETS HONORABLE MENTION FOR DEVICE Ashton Marshall, who has been with the International Projector Corporation since 1929, has been awarded honorable mention by the Labor-Management Committee of the Metropolitan District. He suggested a grinder attachment device which keeps the table at uniform speed for a dressing operation. Previously, the operator had to estimate when the table was traveling at the same speed as the previous dressing. If the speed is faster, more grit is removed; if slower, less grit is removed. This results in losing the correct number of oscillations required for exact size, as well as in the loss of time. Mr. Marshall's device eliminates guesswork and saves approximately three minutes in every operation. ACE REEL-END ALARM (Pat. Pending) The Only Bail-Bearing Reel-End Alarm Made Insures a Smooth and Continuous Performance Unconditionally Guaranteed for One Year Sold by your INDEPENDENT supply dealer $15oo per pair $15oo per pair (Manufactured by Ace Manufacturing Company) Distributed by JOE HORNSTEIN, INC. 630 Ninth Ave. NEW YORK 19, N. Y. AUGUST 1943 21