Kinematograph year book (1950)

482 The Kinematograph Year Book. Technical Progress in 1949 by R. HOWARD CRICKS, F.B.K.S., F.R.P.S. A YEAR ago, technical comment centred on two correlated subjects, non-flam, base and the draft Home Office regulations (1). The trade hailed the former as a tool with which to defer the coming into force of the latter ; the effectiveness of this tool is demonstrated by the fact that the draft has been deferred for reconsideration in probably a couple of years' time. Non-Flam Base It must, however, be pointed out that the new stock has not been accepted as non-inflammable within the meaning of the Act. However, informed opinion seems to be veering to the view, which I expressed a year ago, that a modifying Act will be passed, accepting the British standard definition of safety film (2) as outside the existing Act, and enabling the Home Office to impose appropriate restrictions. One must not overlook the fact that although the inflammability of celluloid film is the legal pivot upon which hinge both the present and the draft regulations, in fact the regulations cover many factors entirely unconnected with the film or any possible danger therefrom. The two non-flam, bases, Kodak tri-acetate (3) and Gevaert acetate butyrate, have, during the past year, been subjected to protracted field tests. After some teething troubles due to slight difficulties in splicing, the stocks have shown themselves for all practical purposes the equal of nitrate. In one respect these difficulties in splicing may prove to have had a beneficial effect : it is at last officially accepted that a joining press should form an essential component of the rewinding equipment. The C.E.A. technical officers have not been content merely to recommend the installation of presses ; they have made exhaustive tests, and have, as a result, recommended presses made by Cinesales (*) and Rigby (5) — both specially developed for non-flam, film, and marketed at very moderate prices. Any projectionist would welcome the Robot II splicer, which, by a double movement of two knobs, cuts and scrapes both films, applies the cement, and exerts pressure upon the join, all within three seconds. How many exhibitors will be willing to pay ^60 or more even for such a marvel of ingenuity and a fine piece of engineering, remains to be seen (6). Following upon the world-wide popularity attained by the G.K.21 projector in the larger theatres, and later the 20 (7), two new members of the family have been introduced : the G.K.I 9 and the 18, the last an outfit intended for the 1,000-seater, and selling at a competitive price (8). It should be emphasised, however, that all the units of these outfits are interchangeable, and, for instance, a small kinema preferring an enclosed mechanism can choose the G.K.I 8 outfit with the 19 picture head. Novel Design After many vicissitudes, attributed to difficulties in obtaining materials, tne pioneer firm of Kamm has produced a projection outfit of novel design known as the Vanguard; it is a piece of sound design and good engineering (9). Imperial, of Leicester, also have a new outfit (10). Both these, like the B.T.H. SUPA ("), embody within the two housings the whole of the equipment for projection and sound reproduction. A firm whose experience in the manufacture of kinematograph equipment is equalled only by that of Kamm's, is Ernest F. Moy Ltd., who now manufacture the Walturdaw projector. Another essentially British machine is the Ross, whose GC mechanism now forms part of the