International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1946)

A Crystal-Gazer At Work NOTHING has occurred since the new W. U. concentrated-arc (zirconium) lamp was reported on in these columns * to necessitate any change in viewpoint anent the present applicability of this unit as a light source for motion picture projection. Nor does it appear likely that the next five years will witness any appreciable change in this situation. One exhibitor publication did oppose the I. P. report, however, but its objection was based on "principle" rather than on any data stemming from a comparison of the W. U. lamp with existing light sources. Still, it is interesting to examine the basis for this complaint about I. P.'s purported lack of ethics. The publication in question charged that LP. rendered a "disservice" to the industry in that it presented a mass of "alleged technical facts to prove that the W. U. lamp has no future for us" and. further, used a "bludgeon of big scientific words" against a newcomer to the field. I. P. also missed the sole point of importance about the W. U. lamp: that it is based on a "new principle — one never used before," continued the indictment, and such tactics, it is held, can only serve to deter Western Union and other companies from developing new products for the motion picture field. Winding up its critique of the I. P. report, this exhibitor paper indulges itself in whimsical speculation concerning the many "possibilities" for altering and thus improving the W. U. lamp to a point where it could challenge the present supremacy of the carbon arc. Let's look into this criticism of the I. P. report. Fact, Not Fancy, Needed First. I. P. never stated that the "new Western Union lamp has no future for us." It did state that the lamp in its present stage of development was unsuited for projection. Since the Western Union engineers who developed the lamp concur in this finding, we can't understand the reason for our colleague's bleat. On the score of I. P.'s "alleged technical facts," our critic elected to challenge the I. P. report solely on the basis of publishing ethics, and neither he, nor anybody else, has yet adduced a single technical fact tending to disprove a line of the I. P. report. We can't burn "ethics" in lamphouses. I. P.'s "big scientific words" was not "fancy-sounding language" but merely a tool of the trade of publishing a tech * "The W.U. Concentrated-Ar April, 1946. p. 16. Lamp' nical journal. Anyhow, for those few who possibly may not have understood our exact meaning, we explained the terms as we went along. Just another I. P. service. It is charged that I. P. missed the sole point of importance about the W. U. lamp — that it is based on a "new principle." Well, so was the Mechau optical projector based on a new principle, as was the Philips mercury-vapor lamp, as are scores of devices and methods developed during the past five years, many of which have come to the attention of I. P. Conceivably the sun's rays can be harnessed for film projection. But neither can we burn "new principles" in lamphouses. Now about this business of rendering a great "disservice to the industry" by discouraging Western Union and other companies from developing new products. We have every reason to believe, as a result of personal association, that Western Union has highly competent engineers and sufficient business acumen to know exactly what they have in this new zirconium lamp — what it is. what makes it tick, and what it will do, no less than what it will not do. A Test of Sanity This being so (and who will deny it?) is there any sane person who believes that a single negative report such as appeared in I. P. relative to the present applicability of the new lamp would deter an outfit like Western Union from the further technical development and commercial exploitation of so valuable a piece of property? Surely, this is expanding naivete to the point of imbecility. Western Union knows precisely what it has in this new lamp ; it knows exactly what is required of a light source for efficient projection work, and, we hazard the guess, it does not need suggestions from the trade-paper field as to future procedure. Regarding "possible" future improvement in this new light source, I. P. wishes Western Union all the luck in the world. I. P. has ever been the champion of the new — and the efficient. But meanwhile thousands of motion picture theatres must operate thousands of hours daily week after week. The product of crystal-gazing will never illuminate a motion picture screen — now, today. When Western Union announces that it has improved its lamp to a point where it is considered suitable for projection, I. P. will reopen this topic. When our trade-paper critic adduces one — just one — technical fact tending to disprove I. P.'s opinion on the score of the present, or near-future, applicability of the W. U. lamp to projection, we'll consider that. Incidentally, we note that our distraught colleague "serviced" his readers on the W. U. lamp story by running a 1 -column by 2%" picture over a fourline caption, including the phrase "said to be." Didn't he know? In conclusion, let it be generally known that I. P. presumes to speak for nobody but I. P. Its reputation for reportorial integrity and accuracy was an industry by-word before our critical colleague's paper was founded. I. P. serves the industry best by serving its readers well. LA. Chicago Meet July 22 Set for 1000 Delegates More than 1,000 delegates representing 900-odd local unions will be in attendance when the gavel falls signalizing the opening of the 38th Biennial Convention of the I.A.T.S.E. and M.P.M.O.U, to be held in the Stevens Hotel. Chicago, on June 22. This will be the third such meeting in Chicago, the two previous like sessions having been in 1894 and 1915. In fact, it was in Chicago that the 1. A.'s present title was adopted in 1915. the two previous designations having been limited to stage employes. Although all locals in the Chicago area have been working diligently to provide for the comfort and entertainment of convention delegates, the convention arrangements committee stresses the fact that hotel accommodations are extremely scarce, necessitating prompt action by all designates. Twenty-five locals have been chartered by the I. A. since the 1944 convention in St. Louis, including locals representing television studio employees, wardrobe attendants, studio publicists, and broadcast studio workers. The preconvention meeting of the I. A. General Executive Board will be held at the Stevens Hotel on July 15 and will remain in continuous session until all business properly submitted is disposed of. GERMAN MAGNETOPHONE Further details on high frequency models of the German-developed Magnetophone, using magnetic tape for recording sound, are described in a report released by jhe Office of the Publication Board, U. S. Dept. of Commerce (PB-12659; photostat. |3; microfilm, 50 cents; 44 pages). Research and design information pertaining to the mechanical systems, electrical circuits, recording processes, and the recording tape are discussed in detail in the report. Photographs, wiring diagrams, and schematic and performance curves of some of the systems are included. 12 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST June, 1946