Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

92 BETTER THEATRES July 24, I 943 QUALITY Proved by an Emergency Hundreds of STABILARC Generators now in operation are proving their quality through excellent performance. Looking into the future when times are less critical— when STABILARC Generators are again available — it will be wise to check the STABILARC Story, to learn why they operate so economically • and cut maintenance costs so effectively. b TAB I L ABC Motor Generators 35-42-60-80 VOLT MULTIPLE AUTOMATIC DEVICES CO. 1033 Linden St. Allentown, Pa. Export Office: 220 W. 42nd St., New York City Also Manufacturers of Allentown Steel Curtain Tracks and Curtain Machines. Projection Optics ?,?: 330 LYELL AVE., ROCHESTER, N.Y., U.S.A. • "SEAT JITTERS" Keep seats securely anchored with SUPREME EXPANSION BOLTS. Sold by leading supply houses. Chicago Expansion Bolt Co. CO 2228 W. Ogden Ave., Chicago, 111. Invest in WAR BONDS! {Continued from Page 89) a reminder, only brackets especially fabricated to fit the particular shape and form of the standard, should be used since other types will give constant trouble. The fastening screws or bolts should be of the "alien-head" type with countersunk holes in the brackets, which when tightened solidly in place have no protruding or sharp edges for the patrons to tear clothes on. A good feature of the use of "allen-head" fastening screws with proper counter-sunk holes in the brackets is that they can be tightened or loosened only by using an "alien" wrench. Ordinary screws or bolts can be easily sheared and the heads quite frequently burred by using an ordinary screw driver. Additionally, when an "alien" screw or bolt is used, no patron can use an ordinary screw driver, knife, dime, etc., to loosen the jackbox. ITEM 31 : Hearing Aid Amplifier This is the heart of the hearing aid system and should be accorded the same care and attention that is given the theatre sound amplifier. Some common faults that will cause trouble are : The plug-in jacks are loose, defective or of the wrong type. The wiring connections or splices at the terminals are defective. The tubes in the amplifier may be defective, or some are "dead." The power transformer in this amplifier may be cooked, or of the wrong rating or capacity; or the matching impedance may be wrong. The control switching may be arced, dirty or just making a poor contact. Remember, when any trouble has been traced or isolated in the amplifier, only a competent sound engineer should make the necessary repairs or adjustments. ITEM 32: Carpeting Daily, thorough cleaning is the first rule of carpet care. The first requisite is to be constantly on the alert. All sand, dirt and harmful stains should be removed as promptly as possible, to prevent injury of the pile and colors. In removing the gritty material, use only a good, adequately powerful vacuum cleaner, and a fairly soft broom. Do not think the carpet is of an inferior grade if a slight shedding of fine "fuzz" is noticed in newly laid carpet; this is a natural condition and the shedding will stop soon. For removing stains, use only cleaners that have a carbon-tetrachloride, naptha or soap base, never gasoline or a cleaner containing lead or acids. In some cases, the use of either cold or warm water and a clean cloth will remove fresh stains, if applied immediately. A good grade of carpet, expertly laid over proper thickness of lining, on a floor in good condition will give years of useful service ; however, when carpet is laid with only the idea in mind to do it quickly and cheaply, or some unorthodox method is used in laying to "save yardage," wear will show itself in a short time. When the carpeting shows undue wear and is other wise giving constant trouble, the cause may be due to one or a combination of the following : The breadths and seams are laid across at right angles to the line of most traffic, causing patrons' heels and toes to dig into the pile and seams, tearing them away from the adjoining frame. The carpet lining has shifted due to improper cementing to the floor. The fastening holes are drilled too far apart along the outside edges of the carpet area, especially at the entrance door saddles and in the aisles. This causes the surface of the carpet to be uneven or to "belly-up." These holes should be drilled not more than 9 inches apart, and preferably 6 inches apart along the entrance doors, walk and standee rail. Another cause of carpeting "bellying-up" is water sprinkled on it when it is laid to shrink it at the breadths where loooseness or a mismatch of the design has been due to a fault in weaving or carelessness in sewing. When this portion of the carpeting dried out, the looseness and mis-matched design reappeared. The holes are not drilled deep enough or wrong size wood plugs are used allowing the carpet breadths to shift easily under the slightest strain. The seams are sewed improperly or are weakened by strong "kicking" in laying. The carpet at the door saddles has no binding on the edges, or it is turned under improperly, causing high "humps." A cross seam is in the carpet at the head of aisle, at the standee rail, which opens up easily due to the strain put on it by the patrons' feet as they start down the incline ; of the floor. FLOOR CONDITIONS The floor underneath the carpeting has opened up in spots, leaving sharp edges on which the pile and frame of the carpet is gradually "ground" away by the impact of the patrons' feet. Moisture is coming through cracks in the A floor; or because of the poor make-up of the concrete, water is actually leaking in, A causing the carpet to be continuously damp, with the result that it has become mildewed, which in time will make it rot. When dampness penetrates through j weak concrete it is best to take up the car j pet and lining and waterproof the floor. A new waterproof coating material known as j "Tex-Art" does a very good job of elimi ] nating water seepage or moisture penetra-lj tion. The lining under the carpet is flattened J out too thin or none is present to absorb the hard pressure of the patrons' feet. The entrance door saddles are too low,, or the doors are hung improperly, causing J the bottoms to rub away the tufts as they j are opened or closed. The floor at the doors is cracked or loose, allowing the carpet fastening plugs J to work free. STAIR CARPETING The nosing on the stair treads is too sharp or it is of metal. The fastening