Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1292 New Simplex-Sun-Light High Intensity Arc Lamp Now Ready Claims to embody many new features and improvements AN important announcement is that con r\ tained in a statement issued by Edwin S. ■*“ Porter, president of the Precision Machine Company, regarding the development, designing and building of the new Simplex Sun-Light Arc High Intensity Projector Lamp which is now ready for the market and which is indeed a welcome accessory to the modern projection room. “ Many people,” said Mr. Porter, “ are apparently under the impression that the high intensity arc is something which has been developed in the past year, but such is not the case. The high intensity arc has been in use for some seven years and played a most important part in the great war, for it was the Sperry Gyroscope Company of Brooklyn, who having advanced so far in search-light work were selected by the United States Government to equip the United States Navy with Sperry High Intensity Search-Lights which played so important a part in our naval transport work in bringing troops and supplies to France, but in actual warfare wherever a search-light was used by United States forces on land or sea, it was the Sperry High Intensity Search-Light that was used exclusively, thus making it the only American light of its kind used abroad, which can be interpreted as a splendid tribute to the engineers of the Sperry Company. It might be of interest too, to know that the search-light which is now nightly projecting a beam of light seven miles straight up into the heavens is a Sperry light which is being tested out in Brooklyn, and which is receiving the close attention of lighting experts, as well as military and naval men from every country in the world. “ The tremendous strides taken by the Sperry Organization in high intensity work attracted the attention of Mr. J. Justice Harmer, president of the Sun-Light Arc Corporation, who so arranged matters that his company was granted E. S. Porter, President of Precision Machine Co. exclusive rights to the Sperry High Intensity Lamp in the motion picture field. The SunLight Arc Corporation has undoubtedly revolutionized studio lighting through the installation of their Sun-Light arc units which produce in the studios practically the same lighting results as are obtained through the use of real sunlight in exterior work. “ And now we come to the period which interests the projector users, who to a certain extent had been led to believe by those exploiting another lamp, that all but the builders of this particular lamp were ‘ asleep at the switch.’ Such is not the case however, for immediately following the war, a lamp of original design for projector use was developed by the Sperry Company, whose experience, facilities and data provided them with everything that was needed to produce an ideal motion picture arc lamp Together with the engineers of the Sun-Light Organization they worked along altogether different lines than had been followed by others. The idea that was always before them was to produce a lamp that could be used on varying amperage and that would be readily adjustable as is the present type of carbon arc lamp and yet strong and rugged enough to withstand high amperage, which latter, when run over rating, has made short work of the high intensity lamps that have thus far found their way onto the market. “ Fourteen months before any other high intensity was on the market, one of the new Sperry Sun-Light Lamps was quietly placed in the Capitol Theatre (New York City) projection room, where its work was carefully checked up, and this lamp was soon followed by three of similar design. So well did they do their work, and apparently so far ahead of any competitive lamp did they prove, that Mr. Samuel Rothapfel, the well-known manager of the Capitol, wrote a very strong letter of endorsement after having used these lamps for a year and watching them function side by side for a few weeks with lamps of competitive manufacture. “ Yet no announcement had been made of this marvelous lamp, although hundreds of men interested in projection had visited the Capitol projection room, and after watching the results, invariably requested details as to when this type of lamp could be had for the general market. Just about this time, the industry was being fed-up on high intensity claims, but no commercial lamp had yet been announced that would operate on anything but a certain fixed amperage and the great interest of high intensity greatly died down, when it was found that the only lamps yet commercialized were restricted to certain limited conditions. Meanwhile The Precision Machine Company had become interested in the Sun-Light Arc High Intensity Lamp (which name was given the Sperry Lamp when Mr. Harmer’s Organization procured the motion picture rights to it). Having, through experience in projector building, a most comprehensive knowledge of modern projection room requirements, I incorporated some Simplex ideas into the lamp which is today known as the Simplex-Sun-Light Arc High Intensity Lamp, and which, according to all who have seen it work, can well be declared an achievement in projector lighting.” Motion Picture News J. Justice Harmer, Pres. Sun Light Arc Co. This lamp, it is claimed, has eliminated the weakness that seems to prevail in the usual lamp | of this type. Its construction is extremely < rugged, all contact units being of such type and design that tend to greatly strengthen their efficiency, as well as promote long service. A j striking and unusual feature not found in any other lamp of its kind lies in the fact that it can be used on any amperage between seventy and one hundred and twenty. It is claimed ! that all other lamps function only on a fixed amperage. Another departure is noted in the fact that instead of being operated in a fixed posi 1 tion, the Simplex Sun-Light Arc is equipped with every adjustment handle that is found in the ordinary carbon arc lamp, which permits for j the focusing, centering and adjusting of the ; light. In other lamps it is alleged that such flexibility is not had. V The “ Positive head,” which is the technical term ' for the unit which holds the positive carbon, is readily removable and fastened in a manner which permits for quickly exchanging this head. The contact , through which the current enters the positive carbon is a distinctive feature, inasmuch as it is operated by a finger clamp which easily lifts up, yet it is so constructed and located that it sets into its seat in a floating position to compensate for any irregularity • in the carbon, and at the same time affords a per | fectly tight contact. All springs used in the lamp are removed the longest distance away from the heat 1 sources, while the motor which operates the lamps is outside of the lamphouse. It is further claimed that in the type “ A ” Lamp, the regular Simplex Motor which drives the projector ^ is used in conjunction with the new Simplex Arc . Control, while in the type “ 2 C ” Lamp the motor is located on the outside of the rear end of the lamp . house. The many advantages obtained through hav , ing the motor away from the inside of the lamp j house can be readily recognized. The feeding mech ; anism of both types of lamp is a revelation to all who have followed high intensity lighting, for these units are of such a positive while simple construction that they greatly eliminate the big drawback that has thus far prevented many from adopting high intensity — namely, complication of mech i anism and absolutely undivided attention while run ( ning. The Simplex Sun-Light Arc Projection Lamp has already been installed in many of the Loew's Theatres (this circuit having adopted this type of lamp exclusively), and already almost one hundred of these lamps are operated in and around New York City with most satisfactory results. Both the Messrs, i Porter and Harmer are agreed that they did well to wait until they had a 100% unit to offer to the industry before placing the reputations of their respective organizations behind their lamp. The Precision Machine Company and its distributors are now in a position to take immediate orders for the new Simplex Sunlight Arc Lamp, and have every reason to be proud of this latest Simplex accessory. THE WILLIAMS PRINTING COMPANY, NEW YOBS