The Exhibitor (1960)

New Products Review Some Thumbnail Descriptions of Selected Products Which Have Interesting Possibilities for Theatres PROJECTION AND SOUND Prestoseal Splicer Prestoseal Manufacturing Corp. announced the availability of an improved electric auto¬ matic splicer designed to splice 16mm, 35mm or 70mm microfilm, motion picture film, magnetic film or tape and striped film with¬ out scraping or the use of cement. The principle of the PRO Model Presto Splicer is a combination of controlled heat and pressure applied in a precise, automat¬ ically controlled time cycle. The splice itself does not add any thickness to the film and the but-welded ends produce a homogene¬ ous bond with no loss of picture or sound. PRESTOSEAL SPLICER The improvement of this PRO -2 Model splicer is that a ratchet assembly has been added which advances a teflon tape applying a new pressure surface for each splice. An additional improvement is the addition of a pre-plasticizing assembly which automatically pre-plasticizes the film prior to the splicing cycle. The Presto -Splicer handles all types of safety-film bases including tri-acetate and mylar stock. It can be used for raw stock, short ends, color film, negative, prints, etc. for either motion picture or microfilm fields. Piclear Film Processor Piclear is an automatic machine which proc¬ esses film with a special liquid, a process which Piclear, Inc., promises will much en¬ hance the qualities — visual and audio — of any reels upon which it is used. Spokesmen say that the process could save producers and exchanges thousands of dollars by cutting down on the original number of prints made and by extending the life of those in use by increasing runs from 15 to 25 percent. The firm claims that a savings could also be made due to the fact that scratched prints would not have to be processed by expensive lab¬ oratories. The Piclear machine, or applicator, con¬ sisting of fluid holders, tubing and valves is first mounted under the top magazine of the 35 mm projector. As soon as the “start” but¬ ton of the projector is pushed and the film starts feeding, a prescribed amount of Piclear fluid is released, gravitates down tubes, and saturates two felt pads located a predeter¬ mined distance from the aperture. The mov¬ ing film passes between the wetted felt pads and is first throughly cleaned by the fluid which is a non-toxic and non-flammable balanced solvent formulation. This Piclear fluid does other things of consequence to the film as it passes between the saturated pads. Film moisture content is controlled — the triacetate plasticizer is replaced, and — the film is chemically flexibilized, it is claimed. Following the Piclear pad cleaning, the film receives a very thin coating of fluid prior to entering the projector. This liquid coating temporarily resurfaces the film allow¬ ing light to pass through scratches, cinch marks, etc., rather than be refracted by them. This is the reason why line shadows are not visible on a screen while Piclear is in use. Sound is improved at the same time as track scratches are also temporarily resur¬ faced with piclear fluid, the company states. After the coated film passes the aperture it evaporates and is wound on the take-up reel with no physical acetate change aside from the mentioned conditioning. New Tube Developed Kneisley Electric Company recently an¬ nounced the development of a new 15 ampere Sil-Tub, designed to replace 15 ampere gasfilled or mercury vapor tubes in tube type rectifiers. The company states that the new tube pos¬ sesses the following advantages; 97 to 98-per KNEISLEY SIL-TUBE cent efficiency; virtually unUmited life; her¬ metically sealed against moisture; non¬ aging; no filaments; no more burned socket contacts; convection cooled; much lower transformer temperature; and permits uprating of rectifiers if desired. Visual Image Compensator Vicom, Inc. has developed and introduced a visual image compensator for better pro¬ jection in houses having short projection distances and large screens. The Visual Image Compensator (called VIC) is designed to adapt 70mm and 35mm projectors with standard lenses to wide angle projection, with twice the screen width, equal light distribution, and better quality. The speed of the prime lens will remain unchanged. The unit produces excellent re¬ sults with 4" diameter lenses, as well as 2.871" diameter lenses, Vicom states. VISUAL IMAGE COMPENSATOR The VIC 2X Adapter attaches to the front of any high quality standard projection lens, halves its local length, and improves the projection. MANAGEMENT New Vinyl Spray Taussig Paint Sales Co. has announced the development of a new vinyl spray which “dries ready for use in less than 15 minutes.” Named Lasticolor, this new product “will not stiffen surfaces, dries smoothly and even¬ ly and will not run or fade applied colors,” states the company. New colors may be applied or the original color duplicated by matching or mixing 12 available colors and black and white, it is claimed. Before spraying, sxrrface dirt and residue may be removed with Lasticolor reducer. “Not only can the spray be used to re¬ furbish the seats and drapes, but it is an excellent way to get extra mileage from stage props in the living theatre,” a Tausig official pointed out. Ralph J. Taussig, president, reports that Lasticolor has been used successfully on a wide variety of materials, including cotton, cotton-viscose, rayon, acetate, viscose, nylon, wool, wool-viscose blend leather, leatheret¬ tes, rubber, canvas, and plastics. Three different Lasticolor formulas are available. No. 1 for natural fabrics. No. 2 for plastics, leatherettes and synthetics, and No. 3 for genuine leather. Televance Sentry An electronic device, called the Tele¬ vance Sentry, has been developed which will lower operating and maintenance costs of refrigeration and air conditioning systems, the Televance Corp. says. 82 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR-1960 THEATRE CATALOG Edition April 6, 1960