The motion picture projectionist (Nov 1929-Oct 1930)

September, 1930 Motion Picture Projectionist 21 'master record', which is carved on plain, not emulsified, celluloid, at the same time the photographic negative is heing taken. From this master record, when the photographic positive prints used in the theatre are completely assembled, the sound record is engraved into the edge of the positive prints by means of an engraving machine which reproduces the master record faithfully in every respect. "By placing a roll of clear celluloid upon a disk and passing it over a sprocket drum onto passing it over a disk, the record is carved into the edge of the film, while it passes over the drum, with a steel knife point, which is actuated by the vibrations of the microphone. This produces the master record. Making Duplicates "The duplicates from the master record are also made by mechanical cutting means. In this case we have two rolls of filament, one of which is the master record, passing over one drum, and the other the positive photographic print upon which the impression is to be duplicated. The latter passes over another drum, immediately alongside the master record drum, the carving tool actuated by the first filament reproducing to the edge of the second. "When this is done the sound record for the theatre is complete with the carving into its edge. All it needs then is the pick-up device to reproduce the sound. "In the present photographic lighttrack system five stages of amplification are used between the microphone and the recording machine. This causes the well-known distortion, known as 'the barrej-roll,' which always occurs with the use of amplifiers. Less Amplification "With the inter-sound carving system no stages of amplification are used, the reproduction of the voice coming from the microphone direct to the edge of the film. For this reason there is no loss of naturalness of the voice in the instrument. "In addition to the improvement in tone quality our new sound films will bring about a saving estimated at $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 a year in the operating expenses of every talking picture studio. For example, there are at present about 30,000 feet of photographic soundtrack going into the cutting rooms of each studio on the Coast every day. The product costs about 10 cents a foot, or a total of $3,000. Now by the new process it becomes possible to turn 30,000 feet of film into sound with only $40 worth of celluloid. "Again, the present light-track films require laboratory work for development. With the new sound-films the record can be heard immediately after the recording is completed without any laboratory work whatsoever. "The 'pick-up' device, used for re producing the sound in the theatres, is no larger than the ordinary pocket cigar lighter and costs less than $2 to make, as compared with the present price of the projection sound head." Recalls von Madaler Process This new Spoor process is reminiscent in some details of the system evolved some few years ago by von Madaler. The objections to this latter method (and to any method approximating it), (1) the failure to overcome film shrinkage; (2) the difficulty in transferring the sound record from the "master," or negative print, to the positive print, which was accomplished by the pantograph method, with which very poor results were had; (3) a surface used for mechanical recording should be non-resilient, which film certainly is not, but which wax is, and (4) the matter of surface tension, mechanical tension of the tracker against the film, a problem which von Madaler found impossible to solve. When Mr. Spoor was asked if his new process "approximated" the Madaler system, he replied that it did "somewhat," but that in the main his development embodied many radically new "applications of known principles." He went on to say that the patent situation with respect to his device precluded his releasing the technical details just at present, but that he hoped to be able to supply all necessary data within a short time. Advantages of System The advantages of such a system of sound reproduction are, of course, obvious. The tracking stylus is similar to the electrical pick-up used for present disc reproduction and gives a greater amplification "swing," that is, a greater initial "kick" which naturally requires less amplification. It is understood that the reproduction system of Spoor requires two stages of amplification. Economically this new Spoor system hold great promise, as both initial cost and maintenance expense would be reduced materially. The importance of this feature, however, must necessarily be of secondary interest, pending receipt of details which will indicate the relative technical merits of the new system as compared with existing apparatus. This new development will be followed closely in this publication, with further information to be published herein as soon as it is available. by 8 to 6. Scranton attributes this morning defeat to the fact that the Wilkes-Barre boys are noted night rounders, never turning in to sleep before sunrise. The afternoon game between the same teams resulted in a victory for Scranton, 5 to 1, due, undoubtedly to the fact that they were then fully awake. Races, a tug of war, winner announced; children's races, and other sports completed the day's program. Members of Wilkes-Barre Local Union 325 and Pittston Local Union 120 were guests of the Scranton Local at the outing. Among those present were : Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dempsey, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hopf, Mr. and Mrs. John De Peep, Margaret Seidler, Glen Ornstein, Robert Jeffrey, Mr. and Mrs. Blannett, Miss Hodnett, Mr. and Mrs. George A. Lerp and son, Eden; Anthony Bianco, E. A. Campagna, Edward Basko, George Menn, Mike Pane, Vincent Brazil, George R. Miles, Mr. and Mrs. Lester De Vol, William K. Brazil, T. W. Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Lafferty, Thomas Davis, Rocco Terroto. Also Joseph Namitka, Louise Lancaster, Joseph Dubish, John Korkobecz, Beatrice Van Trent, James Castner, Alberta Endor, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Miller, Edward Miller, T. M. Willers, Bertha Meyers, Donald Ball, George Drobnak, Lawrence Linnen, Betty Oschman, William Kelly, Mae Corcoran, Edward Pantle, Hilda Scholl, Mr. and Mrs. William Pantle and son, Phillip; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Malloy and Junior Malloy, Nancy Mallo:/, Leon Malloy, Mr. and Mrs. John B. Mitchell, Masters Jimmie and Jackie Mitchell, Dorothy Richmond, William Wolfe, Joseph M. Ohall, Dominick Bambico, Charles Beuorvcht, Mike Kubec, Vincent Constanzi, Charles Terroto, Louis Cimino, Clayton Lease, Roosevelt Decker, J. L. Pyle, and Joseph McHugh. Members of the committee on arrangements for the affair were Lester De Vol, chairman; Edward Dempsey, John De Peep, John Korkobecz, William Brazil, and George Miles. Scranton Local Union Holds Second Annual Outing The second annual outing of Local Union 329, Scranton, Pa., was held on Sunday, August 10th, at Lake Ariel, near Scranton. More than 100 were in attendance at the outing. A baseball team representing WilkesBarre Local Union 325 defeated the Scranton team in the morning game Care of the Fader If you will clean your fader well with carbon tetrachloride, then use the ink end of an Eberhard Faber No. 110 eraser followed by just a trace of vaseline your troubles will be over. Clean all the rings that have worn on the contacts, then with one finger smear a very little vaseline on the palm of one hand, then with a dry finger take up some of this vaseline and wipe it on the fader contacts. After you have wiped your hands clean take a dry finger and wipe the contacts nearly free of vaseline. Don't leave enough to see as only a slight suggestion of vaseline is necessary. If these instructions are followed only about one-third the cleanings will be necessary as when the contacts are left dry. This method is also very good for any place where moving contacts are used in the system.— A. P. S. Loudspeaker.