Kinematograph year book (1944)

198 The Kinematogaph Year Book. Early in the year, the situation as regards spares was so serious as to wax rant representations to the Government by the joint liaison committee of the C.E.A. and K.M.A. to assure the release of material to enable exhibitors to keep their shows going. Actually, the probability is that this decision was not so difficult to arrive at owing to the necessity of meeting similar requirements of Service kinema installations. The difficulties of renewals and replacements have been stated by Thomas Chilton, of J. Frank Brockliss, Ltd., who points out that "the Board of Trade controls the supply and repair of projectors and arcs. The granting of licences for repairs takes time, spare parts are not always available, and instead of two months being the average time required for the overhaul of a pair of mechanisms, it may take anything up to six months. It is true that mechanisms are loaned out whilst this work is being done ; but because of the long delays in completing repairs it is obvious the stock of stand-bys is worked to the limit." American manufacturers are also subject to licences in the building of projectors ; during the first three months of 1944 only 200 permits were granted. Projector building in Great Britain is not subject to a numerical allocation. Application is made and the Board of Trade issue licences for the supply of the necessary material. Certain equipment will not be capable of patchwork renewal. Many projectors are already due for scrapping ; already where the condition of machines is bad it is possible to obtain new, but here, of course, a certificate from a Government inspector is required. The inspector, as a rule, is very fair, giving his certificate wherever the apparatus is in really worn-out condition, or making such suggestions, backed up by his recommendation, as will put the apparatus in sound working condition. One matter in connection with spares that was brought up was the operation of the purchase tax on spares, an instance being cited by an exhibitor who had to pay £15 for a pair of back-gate plates against the pre-war price of £4 10s. A problem that is being considered by many industries — the post-war disposal of equipment — is being considered by the Kinema Trade. The Government has during the past three years been a record customer for all types of projectors, chiefly mobile. There will probably be a certain demand for these, for the purpose of running village shows, and for propaganda and advertising. The biggest problem seems likely to arise in regard to 16-mm. sound projectors, whose number far exceeds that of 35-mm. machines. Should these machines be thrown upon the market at knock-out prices, or should the manufacturers be given the opportunity of repurchasing them at agreed discounts, in order that they may be reconstructed for resale ? The subject is of such importance that it should figure in discussions between the Trade and the Government Departments concerned. The standardisation of film spools, which was originally mooted in 1938 without success, has again been canvassed, and it has been suggested that the American standard of 1,700 ft. should be adopted in this country ; others advocate a 1,200-ft. minimum and a 1,500-ft. maximum, which would avoid overloading spools and would be a more convenient length with which to deal. Standardisation of film spool hubs was mentioned at the B.K.S. as desirable, but the transport of film on spools was frowned upon owing to the risk of damage. And in connection with this subject, a suggestion has been made for a B.S.I, specification of a really good re winder. Another matter which has been brought before the B.K.S. was the possibilities of the non-intermittent projector, which formed the subject of a paper by R. Howard Cricks, F.R.P.S., Technical Editor of the "Ideal Kinema," who confesses to the notion that sooner or later the intermittent motion will become obsolete. He examined the reasons for the non-success of the principle and referred to various examples of its application, including the Mechau Arcadia, half-a-dozen of which were installed some years ago in the LoDdon area. Advantages of the non-intermittent motion he states as follows : From the exhibitor's poirt of view, the chief object is to economise