Kinematograph year book (1928)

230 The Kinenudograph Year Book. TICKET MACHINES. Speed in issuing tickets is a prime essential of the modern large capacity theatre. It goes a long way to abolishing the queue problem. Automaticket has made wonderful strides during the year, thanks to Percy Phillipson's energy in popularising this admirable system of automatic ticket issuing and registering. The Accurate Check-Taker's new ticket issuing machine has proved its value wherever an alternative is required to the famous checkissuing instrument. A British invention, this has proved both speedy and accurate. The fact that over 24 million tickets were issued by the Rolltic at Wembley shows the expediency and control with which this machine handles tickets. Other of its advantages which appeal to exhibitors are the small space it occupies and that neither electricity nor motor is necessary. The Rolltic has achieved great popularity abroad, especially in Australia, rights of which have been acquired by J. C. Williamson, the prominent antipodean manager who recently placed orders for 108 complete machines. Another very satisfactory machine is the Express, which is designed for check issuing and registering. Made by W. T. Ellison & Co., of Manchester, it is trustworthy and dependable. VENTILATION. Important strides have been made in the heating and ventilation of kinemas. In accordance with the L.C.C. regulations, the plenum system has been adopted in the majority of new picture theatres. In this system the atmosphere of the hall is maintained slightly above barometric pressure of the air, the purified air being pumped in almost at audience level and extracted at the roof. During the past year, however, the down-draught system has been recognised by the authorities. By this method " conditioned " air is forced in at a high level and extracted at the floor, a system which has been largely adopted in the super theatres of America. It is sponsored in this country by the Carrier Engineering Company, whose system has been installed at the Carlton Theatre, Haymarket, London, and the new West Ham ' Broadway ' now being built for Phil Hyams. In the Carrier " conditioning " system, the correct relative humidity is achieved. All fresh air is washed automatically. In the summer a centrifugal refrigerating machine is used. In view of the fire regulations an arrangement is installed which permits of the reverse of the air movement in the event of fire. At the Cameo, Leicester Square, the heating arrangement is by means of electricheating panels fixed in the ceiling. These are controlled at will from the intake room adjoining the projection room. Mention should be made of the very efficient fog dispersing plant installed at the Gaumont studio by Hall and Kay, ventilating engineers ; the outside air cannot get into the interior of the building where a plenum is always maintained without passing through a special filter cleaner, owing to the inside pressure. It is equally applicable to the kinema. In the older halls, where ventilation requires improvement, it is to be achieved by the use of the " Ultrozone " apparatus, which, installed in the trunking of the various forced draught systems, affords a complete germicide, a powerful deodorant and quickly renders a vitiated atmosphere sweet. Protection from influenza and all infectious germs is afforded by various vaporisers, such as the Pure-Air-Fan, and the Palmash Atomiser, the Omni Vaporiser is efficient and simple and needs only plugging-in to any electric light circuit. Current consumption is negligible and the vaporisers will last for years. OBITUARY. The death took place early in the year of two well-known figures in the technical and equipment sides. Israal Davis, chairman of Dallmeyer Ltd., the well-known lens manufacturers, died at the age of 79. And James S. Lyon, who was the principal of the studio and stage furnishers of the same name, died in January in his 74th year. The business, which was founded in Holborn over a century ago, is being carried on by his son.