Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE MARKET AND ITS SOURCES OF SUPPLY Standard Fluorescent "White" Lamps Compared POINTING out that five lamps for producing "white" light in general lighting, are now listed in the Standard Price Schedule for fluorescent lamps, the General Electric Company, in a recent issue of the Nela Park Lamp Division publication called Light, has briefly summarized characteristics of each of the lamps to help in selection according to purpose, as follows : 4,500 WHITE "This color was developed in response to public demand for a color between daylight fluorescent and the standard white fluorescent lamps. The majority of applications to date have been in . . . interiors with lighting levels of 50 foot-candles or more. Under these conditions, one color is not accentuated more than another in merchandise and decoration." WHITE "Like 4,500 white, it gives interiors a clean, modern fresh looking appearance. At present this lamp and the 4,500 white comprise two-thirds of customer demand." DAYLIGHT "This is the coolest appearing fluorescent white in the line — one of the reasons why it is so popular in the south for general use. Regardless of geographical location, it is often selected for industrial lighting where more accurate control of color is desired, comparable to the effect of illumination outdoors." SOFT WHITE "This is a new soft white — the latest in fluorescent lamps, developed after years of research. It is particularly complimentary to the appearance of complexions, rendition of foods, and gives surroundings a pleasant atmosphere." WARM TINT "The new G-E warm tint gives the color impression of filament lighting with the modern appearance, economy and high efficiency of fluorescent. It provides the familiar quality of filament lamps and emphasizes the warmer colors and decorative schemes just as they do." PEDESTAL FOR DRIVE-INS To meet the need for upward tilt of projectors in drive-in theatres, the pedestal shown above has been added to the line of the International Projector Corporation, distributed by National Theatre Supply. Called the Simplex LL-6, it may be micromatically tilted upward to an angle of 15°, eliminating the necessity of constructing an inclined concrete platform for the projector installation. Motor-Driven Rewind With Foot Control A motor-driven rewinder has been added to the line of Neumade Products, Inc., New York, manufacturers of a variety of projection accessories and other theatre equipment. The new rewinder \ has a motor on a ball bearing drive connected through a variable speed control which is foot-operated. The control is equipped with a throwout clutch for reversing the film with the hand rewinder. To prevent damage to the film and keep tension uniform as a guard against "cinching," a slip-clutch is provided in the power mechanism. Both ends of the rewinder are mounted on a smooth white panel of acid-resisting enamel finish. The lefthand unit has an arm brake. The motor-driven rewinder is listed as Model PD-1 in a new Neumade catalog just issued. Projectionist's Reel End Signal Now Made in U.S. A real END alarm in wide use in Canada for over a year, has been acquired for American manufacture by American Theatre Supply, Inc., Seattle. Developed by J. G. Jackson, projectionist at the Capitol theatre in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, it is patented in both the United States and Canada, and is made for the Canadian market in Mr. Jackson's own shop. American Theatre Supply will distribute its output through theatre supply dealers. The basic principle of the device is explained as that of a common pendulum. In the Jackson reel signal, the pendulum is suspended eccentrically on the end of the reel spindle, balanced to swing at only one shaft speed. The signal is a bell, and inside of this is suspended a small hammer which comes in contact with the rim of the bell when the pendulum swings; the hammer thus rings the bell twice for each revolution of the reel shaft. This continues for from ten to fifteen seconds, then stops automatically when the shaft speed has increased beyond the frequency of the pendulum. The bracket for attaching the signal is designed for easy installation on any standard reel shaft by merely threading it on to the end of the spindle and tightening one screw. Timing of the signal is determined by adjusting the position of a small counterbalance on the top of the pendulum — for reels with 5-inch hubs, it is set high, and lower for 4-inch hubs. Such adjustment brings the bell into operation from 60 to 90 seconds before the end of the reel. Mr. Jackson, who is a member of the Vancouver IA projectionists' local No. 348, has invented a number of devices, including a continuous motion picture projector. BETTER THEATRES, NOVEMBER 20, 1948 1