Motography (Jul-Dec 1917)

1256 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XVIII, No. 24. The Man Inside the Booth PROJECTION DEPARTMENT, CONDUCTED BY E. C. SCOBEY Invents Fire Preventative Dreams of disastrous fires in moving picture theaters caused by hot carbons coming in contact with films, caused Harry E. Smith, operator at the Iris Theater, to invent what is known as a "carbon stick holder." The holder is an iron box nine inches square, which rests upon a heavy iron stand. There is a small chute in the top of the box, closed by a trap door. When the operator wishes to discard a burned-out carbon, instead of throwing it on the floor he tosses it in the box. The weight of the carbon causes the trap to open, allowing it to slide down to the bottom of the box. The trap door then closes automatically. Smith began working on his invention in December, 1914, and after it was completed he sent photographs of the box to the Kansas fire marshal, Topeka fire marshal and state officials, who approved his plan for minimizing the danger of fire in moving picture houses. The inventor then applied to the United States patent office at Washington for sole rights to manufacture the box and has received his patent papers. About Worn Sprocket Holes After reading your many articles in Motography, I personally agree with you on practically all of them. I desire, however, to draw your attention to some of the viewpoints which I think that you admit in regard to the condition of film damage as explained by you in your department under date of December 1. As a rule in the last year in all projection departments there have been many questions asked concerning moving picture films, especially sprocket holes, and in all cases from the exchange manager down, the projection machine and the operator are jointly blamed for said damage to the film. The writer believes that the projection machine today is about as near perfect as ever a machine will be built, and only a fool will question the accuracy of the mechanism. True, some machines will become out of line, but very seldom. Three-fourths of the operators of today operating machines are far better than they have been heretofore. There is a reason for this. Trade Papers Help The operators of today have the aid of the projection departments of the various trade papers and many points are gained by the operators, where the access of these various departments were not to be had ten years ago. As long as the moving picture industry exists there will always be some projection machines that will need repairing which will be neglected, and there will also be poor operators, as it will be impossible to secure twenty thousand perfect operators in the United States and Canada. In no industry are there one hundred per cent efficient mechanics. Not Operator's Fault Just because there are at the present time many complaints from the exchanges and amongst the operators of poor condition of film, it is not always the poor operators, or projection machine in poor con dition. Why not investigate the moving picture film itself? Sometimes when moving picture films are released by the manufacturers they are in an unfinished condition. A new moving picture film should not have an accumulation of emulsion gathering on the tension. This is the greatest damage done to a film on account of the hardening of the emulsion, which will cut the sprocket holes and weaken the film. Emulsion Gathers On Machine Often the emulsion does not gather on the tention springs, but other parts of the mechanism and when this hardens it will scratch the film. To eliminate this trouble, for the sake of the strength of the film, manufacturers, or the exchanges, should repair it so that the emulsion does not accumulate on any part of the mechanism of the projection machine. Poor projection is also caused by film being very oily. It is only a few years ago that a great many complaints were made among the patrons of theaters on the flickering of pictures that hurt the eyes. The projection machine of today is made so nearly perfect that all flickering is eliminated. Oily film is bound to flicker on the screen, however. The above conditions can easily be eliminated by the exchanges if they desire to invest a little money. Exchanges only patch the film, but they never endeavor to place in force any method to enliven the moving picture film from time to time so it does not decay and deteriorate and become weak, not only at the sprocket holes, but the condition of film in general. /// Used Film Is Short Lived If there is no attempt made to hold the strength of the film the body of it is lost in a very short time. Corrosion on film will do more to weaken the life of a moving picture film than any thing else, even though it is not being projected but is left idle in the vault. The various exchanges throughout the country are blaming the condition of the film to poor stock. Let me assert that the stock of today is just as good as ever, if not better. If the manufacturer would only take the pains when developing to give a film natural drying we would have stock as good as in former days. Drying Is Hurried The secret of a concern that turns out good stock, I believe, is that attention is paid to drying. If a film is dried very fast as at the present time the majority of manufacturers are doing, its life is shortened materially. It is not the celluloid itself that causes all the trouble but it is the coating on the film known as the emulsion. When this is dried out fast the water practically is drawn out and causes a hard layer of film, which becomes very brittle and is practically bone dry. There is nothing that can prevent a film of this kind cracking at the sprockets owing to the film becoming buckled. Remedy Is In Making I think in the future if the film itself .will be taken more in consideration when being turned out instead of blaming the projection machine and operator, when it wears out quickly more success of good condition of film will be had. Emulsion troubles when new can be prevented. Oil and corrosion can be easily removed and the life of a film can be continued much longer than at the present time. If a film is dried very fast it has an uneven shrinkage and if the film of this kind comes in 'contact with a projection machine with a hinge on the side, holding the gate, the tension on the hinge side is much firmer against the film than the opposite side. If the sprocket is a little bit off something must go and naturally it is the film. Practically seventy-five per cent of film troubles are due to the film itself and not the projection machine or the operator. Trusting that this will be of some information to enlighten you in your Projection Department of Motography, and with best wishes, beg to remain. Yours very truly, THE REX FILM RENOVATOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY R. D. HANISH, General Manager. Regarding Operators' Union Can you give me a little light on this matter, what is gained by joining the Moving Picture Operators' Union, how much does it cost, and to whom do we apply for admittance, what experience is necessary, and any other information you can give me on this will certainly be very acceptable. Yours truly, O. J. D., South Dakota. I could best answer your first question, "What is gained by joining the I. A. T. S. E, & M. P. M. O." by giving you the Preamble of the Constitution of the I. A. T. S. E. & M. P. M. O. which is as follows : "We, the theatrical stage employees and moving picture machine operators of the theaters, moving picture studios and amusement places throughout the United States and Canada, in order to develop and improve our condition, to insure the maintenance of fair rate of wages, to better the working conditions of our members, to insure the employment in the various theaters, moving picture studios and amusements resorts throughout the United States and Canada of competent persons, members of this Alliance, as stage employees, elearers, carpenters, property men, fly men, electricians, electrical calcium lamp operators, picture and projecting machine operators, and that equity may be maintained, do signify willingness in all difficulties to accept any wise, honorable and conservative meditation and to secure the benefits of such unity to ourselves and posterity, do adopt and establish this Constitution." — The initiation fee of the several Locals vary so that it would be impossible for me to tell you just what it would cost you. If there is no Local in your city, then you would have to join the Local that is nearest to your city or seven operators or more can make application to the I. A. T. S. E. & M. P. M. O. and a charter will be granted. Write to Mr. F. G. Lemaster, General Secretary-treasurer, 107 West Fortysixth street, New York, N. Y., and he can give you what information you need as towhere to join.