Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1936)

JDont~£et anyone teMyoic YOU'VE COT TO JUNK YOUR OLD EQUIPMENT TO GET BETTER SxxwnxL/ No theatre man is fool enough to think he can pass off bum sound to his customers for long. But where the rub comes in is that few if any of us can afford to install complete new projector and sound equipment. I found that by buying an OPERADIO AMPLIFIER and matched SPEAKER, I got the sound my customers insisted upon . . . and man, 1 sure saved money. Take a tip from me: When you dress up your house let an OPERADIO man give you a peek at their money-saving AMPLIFIER and SPEAKER proposition. They're a swell house to deal with. Send along a letter asking for Bulletin 103. Address Dept. M.P. MANUFACTURING COMPANY Dept. M.P. ST. CHARLES, ILL SPECIFY THE GOLDE STANDARD CUSHIONED CONE TAKEUP The Approved Safety Takeup for 2000 Ft. Reels. AT ALL DEALERS Are You Going to Remodel? ... If so, you may find the Planning the Theatre department of Better Theatres helpful. This department is conducted by an experienced theatre architect, Peter M. Hulsken. Merely write: BETTER THEATRES, ROCKEFELLER CENTER. NEW YORK by an iron door. At the top of this base is a shaft upon which the projector swings in accordance with the projection angle, this movement being accomplished by a positive solid locking device. The projector will accommodate any of the standard makes of lamphouses. Two enclosed compartments are provided in the base of the lamphouse support, one for tools and the other for carbon storage. The magazines are 18 inches in diameter, accommodating 3,000 feet of film. The driving motor is located on the top of the housing and belts directly to a large driving pulley by means of a flat bottom New Motiograph Model H-U Projector. V-belt of good proportions. The rear shutter is of an improved type of cylinder shutter which Motiograph has used for many years. The intermittent movement is of the star and cam type, the intermittent sprocket shaft being carried by "thrustite" ball bearings at either end. The intermittent movement is lubricated with grease, not oil. All adjustment controls are provided in very convenient form. Framing, for example, can be accomplished from either side of the mechanism by means of substantial handwheels located at the top front of the mechanism, extending out somewhat beyond it. The mechanism casing is quite remarkable in the extent to which it may be opened. By pressing down one knob the working side door may be swung open. By raising a hook-shaped handle near the base of the mechanism immediately under the aperture, the back of the casing may be swung outward at its lower end, thus leaving a clear path for threading. On the non-working side the whole side of the casing may be conveniently lifted away — a very convenient arrangement embodying, by the way, complete protection for the mechanism. The doors on both sides of the casing have glass panels of good dimensions so that the mechanism, including the film on both sides of the projector, are in full view. This, of course, is a very desirable feature in any projector. The upper and low sprockets are each served by one roller idler. The intermittent sprocket has a steel shoe. The automatic fire shutter seems to be well designed. It should be thoroughly reliable in operation. The shutter may be timed within wide limits while the projector is in operation. The big belt driving pulley aforementioned drives the soundhead mechanism directly through an intermediate gear, the projector mechanism itself being driven by a chain that is a new development also adopted to use with studio motion picture cameras. It is asserted to be absolutely noiseless and non-stretching. It also is said to absorb gear and mechanism vibrations and thus prevent those vibrations from reaching the soundhead. Any type of soundhead may be used with this model Motiograph. All driving shafts are equipped with replaceable and removable bearings. HAVE YOU EARLY-DAY PROJECTION EQUIPMENT? H. T. COWLING of the motion picture and sound recording division of the national archives, Washington, D. C, writes, "First, I want to congratulate you Upon your seventieth anniversary and to wish you many happy returns. It is with real pleasure I note in the trade press that the industry is taking cognizance of your long service to the cause of motion pictures. "As you may be aware, I am a member of the museum committee of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, which committee was organized for the purpose of collaborating with the Smithsonian Institute in the collection and perpetuating of the earlier types of motion picture equipments. "At the last meeting of the committee I was delegated to solicit your assistance in this work. We would very much appreciate any help you may be able to render in locating any of the very old types of motion picture projection or camera equipments, for which I am sure you will agree there can be no better depository than the Smithsonian Institute." I was invited to be a member of the museum committee, but advancing years and increasing press of work compelled me to decline. However, anything I can do to assist that committee in the collection of motion picture "antiques" is a service of pleasure, for I realize that all too soon those who now have such equipments in their possession will have "checked out," whereupon those equipments may and probably will pass into the hands of those having small, if any, interest in the motion picture industry. I therefore most earnestly suggest that readers who own any such early-day equipments, or who know any one who does, get into touch with Mr. Cowling, The National Archives, Motion Picture Division, Washington, D. C, immediately. As I understand it, if accepted, the equipment will be displayed in the Institute motion picture-sound division, with a suitable card bearing the name of its donor. 44 Better Theatres