Motion Picture News (Aug-Oct 1920)

2296 (Equipment Service) Motion Picture News Alaskan Letter {Continued from page 2294) speaks of. I had something happen up here last week that may interest some of the readers. I had been off for a week on a vacation and I have had a man learning, a man I can depend on. He ran the show for me. Well when I was away another fellow had been telling the owner (not the manager) that he was an operator but had not operated for a couple of years but would like to start in again, so he comes up one evening to see how it was and he could not even thread up the machine but he claimed that it was on account of being used to the old Edison machine (here are four men in town that claim to be operators but have never seen anything but the old Edison handwind machines). Well when I got back I got orders to teach this gentleman but I guess you know just what I did. Am enclosing a cue sheet for change overs that I have been using for a while. I also have an idea of my own for dissolving the picture. I saw something similar to it in the News for July 3rd. It is very much alike. As far as punch holes and bad film this is a fright up here especially the Fox Films. The last three Sunshine Comedies have been bad. The first one, "A Waiter's Wasted Life," I only made 64 splices in before I could run it through the machine. It sounds like fiction but it is the honest truth. The second was better. There were only 57 splices and the third I gave up counting as it took me over one hour to go over two small reels. I always go over the film before running them, will not take chances to run them first. Well, I have a whole lot more I could tell you about things up here but am afraid I am tiring you with this and my poor writing and spelling so will quit for this time with best regards to you and fellow operator. New Reel Designed to Eliminate Film Injuries Received from Undue Take-up Tension Original Boylan Even Tension Reel Appears in Improved and Perfected Form It is as great an accomplishment to take a good product and materially improve it as to make the original article. The Boylan Even Tension Reel was a good reel and created a fine name for itself when it was being manufactured and sold by its inventor, Gove Boylan. In its perfected and improved form, carrying the combination name of Simplex-Boylan it is a reel even better than the original. Following the usual custom, one of the reels was given to the Technical Department of the News for testing and inspection. This test was more severe than would be encountered in actual practise-. For instance, the film was caught up just as it left the lower sprocket and a loose loop allowed to form momentarily. When this loop was released the reel sprang into action, doubling its speed and taking up the excess film until the latter became taut. At this point the reel slowed down and rotated normally, taking up the film in perfect order. Throughout this test the " take-up " on the machine itself was screwed down tight, which is the proper mode of operation with the Even Tension Reel. Many projectionists, through actual use are acquainted with the original Boylan reel. The Simplex Boylan in construction and design incorporates several obviously good features, among them being the method of securing the wooden hub, and the ingenious scheme which makes it possible to use the reel on the rewinder. Fig. 1 — Simplex-Boylan Reel showing steel wire construction The drawings show the four screws which pass through both end plates and the wooden hub and which are secured on one end by nickel-plated nuts. The specially treated wooden hub, in the new form of reel rubs against a diecasting instead of a wood bearing. If it ever becomes necessary to replace the wooden hub (Continued to page 2298) A Real Automatic Arc Control The Peerless Automatic Arc Control is made for use on all projectors having direct current at the arc. The device is so sensitive that less then one sixty-fourth of an inch increase in gap will start the motor and bring the carbon back to the proper position. Operation is so slow and delicate that the carbon movement is not noticeable to the eye. Practically frees the operator from giving any attention to the arc, and enables him to attend to other duties. Durably made of best materials. Can be adjusted to maintain any desired arc gap. SEND FOR CIRCULAR HOWELLS CINE EQUIPMENT CO., 729 7th Ave., New York THE ACME REWIND TABLE 135 sold to the Famous Players-Lashy Corporation A DOUBLE all-steel table. 44" A long, 36" wide. 31" high, made of No. 16 gauge steel with 1W x 1%" x 3/16" angle iron leg's, fitted with steel waste chute in centre, interchangeable drawers and drilled for rewinders, cement and water bottles. All parts are electrically spot welded and the finish is baked on olive green enamel. FOR QUICK AND EFFICIENT SERVICE, WRITE OR WIRE CLIFTON R. ISAACS, Inc. Main Office: 160 West 45th St. XEW YORK Factory: 45 Lafayette St. 35 S. Dearborn St. TRANSFORMER AND ADAPTERS Satisfactory Service, adapted to either Alternating or Direct Current. WE GUARANTEE all our products. Rutledge & Company CHICAGO