Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1929)

880 Motion P i c t it re News New and Improved Equipment— Continued Film Inspection for Defects Impairing Sound Facilitated by New Machine IN an announcement of a new model film inspection machine designed es-pecially for theatres, officials of the Film Inspection Machine Co., of New York, makers of the Duo model inspection machine which has been used so successfully in exchanges, call attention to the great importance of keeping sound films, particularly those in natural colors, in good physical condition and having each print in perfect repair before running it through the projector in connection with the synchronous sound producing device. The day is past, the announcement states, when it is considered sufficient to hastily run the film between the fingers as it is rewound and repair only the most ol)vious breaks. The tiny breaks and tears, especially those which do not extend to the outside edge of the film, are -difficult to detect by hand inspection. The small breaks are in a way the most important to discover l)efore repeated projection makes them so large that to repair them the removal of several inches, and sometimes more, of film is necessary. It appears, therefore, that if a sure means could be provided for thoroughly examining the film for the tiniest breaks and tears, inside or outside and partly open splices and at a speed faster than can be done by hand, it would be of great value to the trade in general. Such a means is now available in the Film Inspection Machine. In addition to the Duo model which has been used so successfully in film exchanges, the Film Inspection Machine Co. is now putting on the market a machine having some new features to meet the new conditions I)rought about by the sound films. This new model is for use in the theatre or exchange. The machine itself cannot injure or scratch the film. It has no sprockets, and from the time the film leaves the upper reel until it is rewound on the lower reel nothing touches the picture surface or the sound track. The film is inspected as it is rewound and is kept in good , condition, safe for projection, by discovering and pointing out to the projectionist or film inspector all bad spots which should be repaired. If it is desired, the machine can be set to stop at each splice in the film so they can all be closely examined. It is advisable when handling films synchronized with discs thus to examine every splice and guage the film to be sure that any frames taken out have been replaced with an equivalent amount of film. The use of the Film Inspection Ma chine also serves as a check on the condition of the projector. When rewinding and inspecting between shows, the projectionist knows, of course, which projector the films were last used in. If a certain kind of defect is detected by the Inspection Machine after each run through a certain projector, the projectionist will know that that ])rojector needs repair or adjustment and at just what ])lace for the nature of the defect in the film will give him the clue. Fifty Steps Dimmer Range of New Dimmer Flasher IN trend with the increased importance of mobile color lighting for theatre use, a new type of dimmer has been perfected by the Reynolds Fleet ric Company, Chicago. The new type Reco Dimmer Flasher affords automatic control, and is capable of producing intricate mobile color effects. Theatre Film Inspection Machine 1 — Magazine. 2 — Detector Box. 3 — Detector Box Gate. 4 — Fire Valve through which film is threaded for rewinding without inspection. 5 — Film Chute through which film is automatically threaded. 6 — Table Top. 7 — Starting Handle. 8 — -Mechanism housing. 9 — Motor housing. 10 — Cable and plug for electrical connection. Reynolds Electric Company's New DimmerFlasher This dimmer is also for use in producing dimming and color-blending effects in the theatre interior, fountains, etc. It gradually dims lights in fifty steps from bright to dark and back to bright. There is no limit to the number of colors that may be dissolved into one another. This Reco Dimmer Flasher is compact and simple. One feature that will appeal to the operator, is the simplicity of the mechanism and the complete absence of involved and trouble-breeding parts. Weatherproof Front Feature of New Major Spotlight A NEW development in spotlights for ■^ exterior color floodlighting has been placed on the market by the Major Fquipment Company, Chicago, 111. The principal feature of the new unit is a weatherproof front of clear glass with an inner color glass. The inner natural color glass, of heatresisting qualities, is protected from breakage by the clear glass difi:'using lens, slightly convex. The weatherproof front prevents damage to the color element from thermal changes and other weather conditions. The lamps are mounted on a cast aluminum crowfoot base. A special parabolic, heat-resisting spun glass reflector made by Bausch & Lomb, is ground and polished and heavily silvered. It is. backed with a heat-resisting compound to withstand heat and washing. Brass spring rings, astestos cased, hold the reflector and inner color glass in place. There is a rul)ber gasket between the outer lens and this ring. This outer glass, weatherproof, is held by six screw clips. A spun aluminum ring of sufficient depth to hold the inner color and the front glass screws on the housing with watertight fit. .'\ focusing screw which slides the scoket as.sembly to the desired iX)sition and holds it in i>lace, is located at the l)ack and is covered with an acorn cap. Adjustable bracket and wing nut for positioning is at the base of the lamp, all other parts are entirely enclosed.