International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1946)

PROJECTION ROOM HAZARDS (Continued from page 17) candle. At the top of the spouting place a warmed teaspoon into which has been dropped five drops of gasoline or naptha. Use an eye dropper, not a gasoline can, as this demonstration is not a suggested means for suicide. In a few seconds the gasoline will have evaporated and suddenly a trail of flame will start at the candle and go up the entire length of the metal trough, showing that the gasoline fumes, being heavier than air, will travel downhill. Fire underwriters have records of entire homes being moved as far as 100 feet due to the use of gasoline as a cleaner for hardwood floors, the fumes traveling down through a hot air register and igniting at the furnace. Many projectionists use carbon tetrachloride, carbona. or other non-inflammable solvents to wash projector parts. While this material is fireproof, attention is directed to the fact that the commercial product has many impurities, and continued inhalation of the fumes therefrom can cause serious injury to the heart and lungs. Like any other solvent, they should be used ONLY in a well ventilated room. Another unwise practice is the storing of film cement in glass bottles, excepting possibly the small one or two-ounce bottles used with an applicator. There are several instances of these bottles being tightly corked and exploding due to the expansion of the solvent fumes of the cement. A tin can with a screw top is by far the safest item. If they should explode, they at least won't throw glass splinters around. Port Shutter Hazards Another source of injury is rather rare, but when it occurs the results are always unpleasant, namely, the dropping of port shutters on the projectionist's fingers. Many fire officials and theatre inspectors impose silly rulings that, regardless how efficient be the fuse system used on these shutters, they must be supported by a sashcord or other combustible cord. This is a nitwit idea. The abnormal heat in the projection room quickly rots cotton or hemp fibres, which have a habit of parting and dropping a port cover just as the projectionist has his hand on the port. Broken or badly lacerated fingers are usually the result. The practice of installing port shutters weighing as much as fifty pounds and not counter balancing them is also to be condemned. Many such shutters are so heavy that if they were ever released by the fuse system, they would not only crash shut but their weight would tear the entire framework off the wall, and, possibly, the shutter might have to be retrieved possibly from the basement. It is the writer's opinion that there is a separate section of Hell screened off for the persons originally responsible for the construction of a projection room door approximately 18 inches wide and 5 feet high. Such doors are an abomination. The projectionist will find it neresary occasionally to go back stage to check horns or other associated equipment. Extreme care should be taken in working in what may be unfamiliar territory. Modern speaker assemblies weigh from 500 to 4000 pounds, and are easily overbalanced or tipped. The policy favored by a number of local unions of requiring that each member work one week in each theatre of the city in order to familiarize himself with the projection room and its equipment is to be highly recommended, for this practice permits familiarity with many diverse equipment set-ups. A suitable container for carbon stubs is an absolute necessity, but, wherever possible, the proper place for it, despite the rulings of certain inspectors, is within the lamphouse itself; it should be emptied at least once each day, either before or after the day's run. Carrying the hot carbon stub outside the lamp to TWINS to COUNT ON... JANUARY 194 6 For Glamorizing Hollywood's Best To reproduce Hollywood's finestpho Because new DeVRY 35mm Motography and sound at its glamorous tion Picture Projectors are the best best demands mastery in projection that warborn engineering know-how, comparable with the photography and technical knowledge and skilled crampsrecording utilized in its filming. manship can produce, they are the New DeVRY precision performance most economical projection booth twins enable you to reproduce Holly equipment you can buy. 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