Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (1950-1954)

Fig. 5. Westrex RA-1509-A Recorder-Reproducer. The Westrex RA-1509-A RecordefReproducer (Fig. 5), containing magnetic recording and magnetic and photographic reproducing channels, also made a material contribution toward raising the standard of 16mm quality during 19521 The introduction of Sonotrack magnetic striping for 16mm processed sound film was announced to the trade by the Eastman Kodak Company in July 1952. The process was described in detail in a paper presented at the SMPTE Fall Convention, but has not yet been published. Paillard Products, Inc., of New York put on the market a 16mm stereo attachment for camera and projector designed by Paillard, S.A. of Switzerland. In its camera form, this attachment consists of two//2.8 fixed-focus lenses set with their axes 64 mm apart and forming two erect side-by-side images on a single 16mm frame. The optical axes are parallel and the interocular separation is fixed.8-9 The stereo-taking lens attachment is manufactured, at the present tune, for the Bolex 1 6mm Camera only. During 1952, Technicolor changed the sound-track specifications for their Type B, or imbibition 16mm prints, from a blue dye track to a silver track having the same characteristics as a black-and-white print. This provides the best possible sound printing from re-recorded negatives, and the advantage of quantity production which the Type B process affords. In the application of 16mm films for educational purposes all leaders appear to be interested but have not been able to determine to what extent magnetic recording and reproducing facilities can be used. A few universities are planning to produce their own motion pictures on an experimental basis. Certain Government agencies are using magnetic projectors and magnetic striped prints in their foreign aid programs. The year 1952 saw a greater production of teaching films, especially designed for class 542 May 1953 Journal of the SMPTE Vol. 60