Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1943)

74 BETTER THEATRES June 26, 1943 SECRETSof ,t. MUSTARD BUSINESS A certain manufacturer who made himself a neat piece of change selling mustard, once observed that he made his money not on the mustard people ate, but on what they left on the side of their plates. When you come to National Theatre Supply for projection maintenance, there is no "mustard left on the plate" — you get and use everything you pay for. National provides visible 3-way booth protection like this: Emergency Repair Parts Each National branch carries emergency repair parts for quick replacement. Mail Order Parts Stock National is delivering the ■jj genuine Simplex parts you need, proved by shipments greater than ever before. Loan Service Equipment Emergency loan equipment / Y\ more complete than ever, jfeTjs^ready when you need it. Remember, there has never been any rationing of National's ability and eagerness to serve. National, for 17 years, has continuously given exhibitors— not "mustard on the plate" — but a dollar in value for every dollar spent! {Continued from page 71) door on the magazine has prevented the spread of fire into the room because no draft of air was allowed at the start of the fire inside the magazine, with the result that the flame slowly burned out. A magazine door can be sprung easily by either putting a strain on it with the (right) hand when inserting the film reel and opening or closing it too quickly. A bent, scarred or marred magazine or door should be repaired immediately and always be kept clean of all film residue. ITEM 20: Film Reels Make sure that the outside diameter of the reels are not bent, cracked or have sharp slivers sticking out as such faults will surely mutilate or cut the film edges and sprocket holes, not only when rewinding but also while in the projector. This can be very serious, especially while projecting, for a fire can result when the film or patch is cut open. At the least, a heavy drag is put on the magazines and takeups, while the film may buckle and reel-up unevenly. Always check the reel hub for defects and make sure that the hole fits the magazine shaft. If the hub bore hole is too small for the shaft, ream it out a little with a proper^sized round machining file — never force a reel on shaft. Reels should not be piled six or seven high "flat-ways" and have a heavy shipping container or exchange reel thrown on top. If possible, a special rack should be installed in the projection or rewind room where the empty reels can be stored safely and easily until put in use. It should be remembered that the reels leave the factory fabricated to true and proper tolerances and clearances for the film they are to accommodate and they should be always handled carefully. ITEM 21 : Rewinders Always remember that only a first-class automatic rewinder should be used. Better than a poor one is a pair of hand rewinders, operated slowly to avoid damage to film sprocket holes, re-opening of patches, etc. There are instances in which a home-made, makeshift or experimental automatic rewinder has seemed to operate all right for a time — suddenly a film fire occurred. If the rewinder starts too fast and has excessive tension, it should be immediately corrected and be kept in perfect alignment to prevent any mis-aligned reels from damaging the edges of the film, buckling the film and causing uneven "reeling-up." Always check the theatre reels and especially the exchange reels for defects before starting to rewind film. When the film is rewinding, do not hold one reel tight and let the other turn freely ; this will scratch the film. ITEM 22: Film Splicers Remember that film spliced by hand can never be as strong and reliable as one made by an efficient mechanical splicer. And use only a standard metal rewind table, one that is factory-manufactured. In addition, use only good, sharp scraping blades in preparing the film for splicing; and an approved applicator set, if possible. Only in extreme emergencies, when better means are not readily available, should the job be done entirely by hand. If splicing must be done by hand, cut one piece of film one hole past end of frame, then clean emulsion from end of frame to the edge of the film. On the other piece, cut the film along end of frame and when ready to apply the cement raise the edge and put on the cement underneath, or to the celluloid side, covering generously a surface the depth of the patch ; then lap over the two pieces of film, matching sprocket holes exactly. Keep pressing the two firmly together while still on the table or patching block to allow for sufficient time for perfect adhesion. Remember that film cement applied to the emulsion surface of the film will not stick, nor will it when the splice is not perfectly clean or has oil, dust or grit on it. Only a good grade of film cement should be used, never cement that has been weakened as a result of the bottle being left open for a long time. EMERGENCY SPLICING CEMENT In these uncertain times, when immediate delivery cannot be guaranteed, a cement can be made on the job, but it is strictly an emergency substitute. Dissolve about 8 inches of film from which the emulsion has been completely removed, in one ounce of ether and one ounce of alcohol, thoroughly mixed. This suggestion is offered for what it is worth, for application when regular cement cannot be obtained. ITEM 23: Film Containers Always keep film not in immediate use in solderless, approved, fireproof metal containers or cabinets with the doors fitting properly and tightly. The insulation between the individual reel compartments should be periodically checked for any defects. If the insulation is cracked or broken through, have the cabinet repaired by the manufacturer, if possible, to prevent the igniting of film from one compartment to another in case of fire. Never let the door slam shut by itself or close it roughly by hand, as the door and hinges can be jarred out of perfect tight fitting alignment. Also make sure that after each closing of the door with the film inside, that no end of the film is left protruding outside. FILM SAFE PRECAUTIONS The same care should be accorded a film safe. From a film safe an insulated exhaust duct should run to the outside of the building. The size of this exhaust duct will differ according to the capacity of the safe and the code requirements of the different states and localities. Make sure that the sprinkler head inside the safe is of the approved type and in good NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY Division of NATIONAL^"g^C-BLUDWORTH, Inc. THERE'S A BRANCH NEAR YOU