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24
The Motion Picture Projectionist
October, 1927
-An excessively wide splice just starting to run off the take-up sprocket.
Certain tests show conclusively that the film invariably runs off at the take up sprocket, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred the run-off is caused by a bad splice. The reason for this is that the film at the top sprocket is kept taut by the tension on the reel in the top magazine, and the film is kept taut at the intermittent by the tension at the aperture. The film feeds on to the bottom sprocket out of a loop that is constantly slapping back and forth, and a slight imperfection in a splice will cause the film to run off and become damaged. The condition of the film after running off the sprocket is shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
Very few projection rooms are properly equipped to splice film, but fairly good splices can be made by hand if sufficient time and pains are taken. However, most splices made in the theatres are made in a hurrv, and the samples used in the accompanying cuts are fair examples of how film is spliced in the average theatre.
Not only has a great deal of damage resulted from improperly made splices, but oft times the presentation of a picture is greatly marred. A bad splice also constitutes a fire hazard.
Exhaustive experiments and research have proven conclusively that the best splices cannot be made by hand. In order to prepare a good splice the following conditions must be fulfilled :
First : The splice must be narrow enough in width to conform to the periphery of the sprocket wheels.
Second : The film must be uniformly scraped.
Third : The perforations must be in perfect register.
quickly
evenly
■4th*
' **» * " M> A '? -^,: *>':
Figs. 7 and 8. — Showing Sprocket Runs. — This form of damage is very common. It generally starts at a bad splice and invariably happens at the take-up sprocket.
Fourth : applied.
Fifth : Uniform pressure must be quickly applied after cementing.
The answer to this is, to splice film properly, splicing must be done automatically.
The Famous Players-Lasky Corporation have equipped all of their exchanges and laboratories with the Bell and Howell automatic positive splicing machine. This machine automatically cuts and scrapes film and applies even pressure to the splice. The plates on which the splices are made are heated to about 120°F. The heat not only acts as a binder to the cement but makes it quick drying.
It certainly is the'duty of exchanges to properly inspect and splice the film served to the theatres. It is also the duty of the projectionist to make as good splices as possible, and a little more thought and pains on the part of the projectionist in making splices will greatly add to the life of the film and react in better service from the exchanges.
All film and splices used in these illustrations were taken from prints in daily use in theatres throughout the United' States. All illustrations of film in projectors areenlargements made from slow motion pictures of projectors in actual operation.