Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1947)

20 ^neGluUc Technical comment and timely topics for the amateur * A removable cue indicator will help the scorer to keep his records smooth and unblemished. For larger reels From Eugene Duval, of Hartford, Conn., comes a description of his device for providing means of showing large reels of film, without modifying a projector. "Not wishing to make extension arms an integral part of my projector." writes Mr. Duval. "I constructed a wooden substitute. As the drawing on this page will indicate, the projector rests on a base of wood. On the reel arm side of the projector a wooden upright wall (A) is added to the wooden base. "Wing nuts (B) are used to attach the wooden projection arms, which are flat pieces of wood of suitable dimensions. Since the film itself must be delivered to the projector in good alignment, the projection arms are set out from the side wall with suitable blocks (C). acting as shims, to regulate their distance from the side wall. A flat piece of wood, grooved like a pulley, is attached to the outside hub of the takeup reel, and a spring belt of suitable size (D) is fed to it from the projector for takeup power. "This device works with either 16mm. i>r 8mm. films. Since I use it with an 8mm. Kodascope model 20 projector, I secured a 16mm. reel of suitable size and provided it with an 8mm. core. Since the normal capacity of this projector is 200 feet, it will be seen that the device increases this capacity to 800 feet. If it is used with 16mm. film, the capacity may be increased to 1600 feet. "The chief advantage of this device is that the projector remains unmodified, and will fit in its regular case. The wooden parts must, of course, be carried separately, but they can be demounted and made into a fairly small package." Clie guide George Elmer Tyler, of Branford. Conn., writes about a celluloid record cue indicator which he has devised. "The celluloid strip," says Mr. Tyler, "is of the thicker type which can be obtained easily in most office supply stores. Such celluloid is generally used on indexing files, and it can be got in sheets or strips. "When the desired part of a recording is located, the celluloid is cut in the form (A) that is shown in the -IE >-*E drawing on this page, with a hole for the phonograph pin (C), in such a way that it forms a point just above the spot where the pickup of the phonograph will be placed. "Obviously, there must be one celluloid strip for each cue, but they are inexpensive and easily made. Each should be labeled (B), to indicate the title of the film, the reel (if more than one is used) and the recording. They should be arranged in proper order for each of your films and kept in a box. I use a cigar box. "The chief advantage of this kind of cue indicator over some others is that the records need not be marked or soiled in using it." Neatness Now that the winter projection season is in full swing, a word of caution may not be out of place about three annoying items that all too often are seen on amateur screens. The initial blinding flash that is caused by permitting the projector lamp to shine through clear leader at the beginning of a showing can be avoided by using dense leader footage or by timing the illumination to coincide with the first frame of the movie. Degraded definition of pictures on the screen often results from unclean lenses and can be remedied by keeping [Continued on page 36] * Attached only to the wooden board on which the projector rests, the above device accomplishes the same purposes as reel extension arms. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? The Clinic is written by the readers of Movie Makers. Here you can tell your fellow amateurs of new devices and methods which you have worked out and which will help them. Your contribution to this department is welcomed. For each of your items accepted by the Editor of The Clinic, you will be paid Three Dollars, if the item is illustrated, and One Dollar, if it is not illustrated. You are cordially invited to join in writing The Clinic. Address items to Movie Makers, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York 17, N. Y.