Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

FIRE PREVENTION DEVICES, PROJECTOR THESE ARE autoinatic dowsers and film-cutters that cut off projection light from the film and also sever the film when any of several controls installed on the projector sets the device into operation. The actuating element is usually a fusible link, which melts upon ignition of the film. Film Treatizor Corporation, 117 West 63rd Street, New York 23, N. Y. International Projector Corporation, 88-96 Gold Street, New York City. Pyrene Manufacturing Company, Newark, N. J. Red Comet, Inc., Red Comet Building, Littleton, Colo. • FIRE SHUTTERS, PROJECTION ROOM FIREPROOF SHUTTERS for projection room ports isolate the projection room in an emergency (by melting of fusible links in case of fire), operating either automatically or manually. They mmimize the chance ot panic and lower insurance rates, and are practically always required in theatres by fire regulations. A special switch is available for tripping the port shutters by electro-mecliaiiical action, instead of by means "I fusible links, and at the same time actuating an exhaust fan to draw the fumes into the projection room ventilation duct. Best Devices Company, 10516 Western Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Woodford Avenue, Plainville, Ohio. FLASHERS THESE AUTOMATIC "switch" devices for interrupting intermittently the flow of current to ligni sources, supply attention-arresting animation to electrical displays that is commonly desirable for marquee decorative schemes and exterior signs, and especially so when the theatre front has to compete with electrical displays immediately surrounding it. There are three principal types of flashers : drum type (which has been generally superseded by the following later types), mercury contact type (which is efficient for marquee and sign travelling borders), and the induction disc type, which is readily adaptable to any type of display. France Manufacturing Company, 10325 Berea Road Cleveland, Ohio. Reynolds Electric Company, 2650 West Congress Street, Chicago, 111. Time-O-Matic, Decatur, 111. FLOOR SURFACING MATERIALS, COMPOSITION FLOOR SURFACING materials suited to lobbies, certain foyer areas (sometimes in conjunction with woven floor coverings), men's lounges (on occasion, also for borders in women's lounges, laid flush with a centrally placed rug) toilet rooms where terrazzo would be too expensive and similar parts of the theatre, are available in several composition substances and forms. The base of the composition may be cork (linoleum) or rubber or asphalt. Such materials are obtainable in a variety of patterns, or in solid-color tiles to be laid in patterns, unless it is preferred to have the flooring in one color. Composition flooring, preferably in a battleship grey without design, is usually recommended for projection rooms, being less tiring to the projectionists than a painted .concrete floor. Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa. Congoleum-Naim, Inc., Keamy, N. J. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 1144 E. Market Street, Akron, Ohio. Tile-Tex Company, 1232 McKinley Avenue, Chicago Height, 111. U. S. Rubber Company, 1230 Sixth Avenue, New York City. FOUNTAINS AND WATER COOLERS DRINKING WATER fountains are of two general types : ( 1 ) complete water coolers (cabinets with Freon12 refrigeration equipment enclosed and mounted with bubblers; and (2) ornamental fountains, which may be directly connected to the main where water is available at suitable temperatures (without prolonged running), or be piped to a concealed mechanical refrigeration unit. (In some cities, among them New York, water cooling equipment must be isolated from patrons.) The simplest kinds of ornamental fountains are white or tinted porcelain-finished pedestals or wall bowls, the latter sometimes being incorporated with mirror or tile ornamentation on the wall or in a niche. Also available are decorative fountains complete with lighting provisions. Most fountains may also be adapted to photocell actuation (see Photoelectric Cell jllcchanisms for Doors and Fountains) . Cabinet fountains, or water coolers, are obtainable in finishes adapted to public areas of theatres where decorative considerations are not of first importance. The usual models for this purpose are approximately a foot and a half square and about 40 inches high, built of steel with baked enamel finish in a limited choice of colors, and equipped with either a. c. or d. c. motors for plugging directly into a power line outlet. To supply cooled water to an ornamental fountain, a unit of this type may be placed in a closet or comparable nearby compartment and piped to the fountain. To assure sufficient drinking water where cooling is necessary, the equipment should deliver a gallon per hour for everj^ hundred of seating capacity, and have storage provisions for several gallons. The Crane Company, 836 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 111. The Ebco Manufacturing Company, 401 West Town Street, Columbus, Ohio. Friedley-Voshardt Company, 761-771 Mather Street, Chicago, 111. General Electric Company, 5 Lawrence Street, Bloomfield, N. J. Newman Brothers, Inc., 660 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Rundle-Spence Manufacturing Company, 52 Second Street, Milwaukee, Wis. Sunroc Refrigeration Company, Glen Riddle, Pa. The Halsey W. Taylor Company, Warren, Ohio. The Voigt Company, 1649 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Westinghouse Electric Corporation, 150 Pacific Avenue, Jersey City 4, N. J. FURNITURE FOR FOYERS AND LOUNGES ■FURNITURE DURABLE enough to be practicable for theatre foyer and lounge areas is obtainable today in a variety of styles, in both metal and wood. Metal furniture, which is markedly durable, IS available in chromium, stainless steel and aluminum, with dull or glossy finish. Chairs and settees may be of very simple design, and accordingly very inexpensive ; or they may be of the fully upholstered type, with coil-spring cushions (feather or down cushions are not indicated for theatres because they do not return to shape). Metal tables, having bum-resistant composition tops (or tops of glass or some phenolic like Formica) are particularly indicated for cosmetic rooms, along with small chairs to match. Neither these, nor metal occasional and end tables are necessarily out of place in a room otherwise having non-metallic furniture, especially when the wood furniture is of definitely modern design (like so-called "Swedish modern"). Wood furniture may of course be selected from the better-built pieces adapted to home living rooms, but to be really practicable these should be merely of wood construction, with the frame fully covered in durable fabric (eliminating armrests, feet, etc., in woods like walnut or mahogany). Moderately priced wood furniture of sturdy construction which is suited to theatres quite as well as to homes is that of birch and maple, which may be obtained in novel "modern" designs, and also in rustic or Early American styles, with "wheat" (pale yellow) or the darker maple finish. (For foyer and lounge furniture fabrics, see Upholstering Materials.) Doehler Metal Furniture Company, Inc., 192 Lexington Avenue, New York, N. Y. HeywoodWakefield Company, Gardner, Mass. Kroehler Manufacturing Company, Naperville, 111. Royal Metal Manufacturing Company, 175 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 111. Warren McArthur, No. 1 Park Avenue, New York City. • HEARING AIDS THESE RECEIVING instruments (phones) either of air conduction or bone conduction type, to assist patrons whose hearing is impaired, solicit the patronage of deafened people and help to create goodwill among not only them but their friends and relatives. From five to ten outlets (two seats served by one outlet) are usually considered sufficient. The receivers are plugged into suitable outlet boxes permanently mounted and wired in selected seating locations.* Individual volume controls which the patrons can adjust at will, may be provided either on the outlet boxes or on the cord leading to the receiver. Sound may be taken from the main theatre .system, either directly or through an auxiliary amplifier, or may be picked up via microphone from the screen speakers and passed through a low-power amplifier that is part of the hearing aid system. Acousticon Division of Dictograph Products Company, Inc., 580 Fifth Avenue, New York City. RCA Victor Division of Radio Corporation of America, Camden, N. J. Sonotone Corporation, Elmsford, N. Y. Trimm Radio Manufacturing CompEmy, 1770 West Berteau Avenue, Chicago, 111. Western Electric Company, 195 Broadway, New York City. Zenitli Radio Corporation, 680 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 111. HEATING SYSTEMS AND ACCESSORIES HEATING SYSTEMS USed in the theatre present different requirements from those of other public buildings because of the concentration of occupants in the auditorium, and the wide variation in the number that may be present at any given time. Heat distributing systems are of two general kinds, those using standard steam or hot water radiators or convection type units, and those circulating masses of warmed air through a ventilating system. The later may of course be part of a complete air conditioning system (see Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Equipment). nil and gas are preferable as the fuel where automatic control is provided in the system and when their cost is comparable to that of coal. With coal, automatic stokers reduce labor and insure efficient use of fuel. It is a measure of economy in some theatres having air-conditioning for the auditorium, possibly also for the foyer, or a ventilation system for the auditorium, to use unit heaters for other divisions, such as lounges and toilet rooms, lobby, manager's office, etc. Unit heaters are obtainable for connection to existing steam systems, or they may be individually heated by gas. Also, they are available for exposed installation as well as for concealed locations. 42 BEHER THEATRES. MAY 4. 1946