Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1948)

58 Sect/ on throe/ah hase .F#3 -T^^T. r v. Remo\/a6/e aax///ory /ens FIG. 1. The baseboard, title easel, camera carriage and lighting setup of this convenient tiller are shown in the center sketch. Details A BASIC TITLER JAMES W. MOORE, ACL THERE are four elements essential to any titling device. These are (1) a baseboard, or chassis; (2) an easel, or title card holder; (3) a camera carriage and (4) a fixed lighting setup. Put together these four essentials, in dimensions which will fit your camera, and you will have a titler which should answer all of your basic needs. The designs on this page show how that can be done. In this titler, except for certain obviously metal fittings, the construction throughout will be of wood. This should be solid and well seasoned, to guard against warping. The sizes and weights used will depend upon the weight of your camera and, to a degree, on whether you plan on using the titler in a horizontal or vertical position. Our illustrations show it employed horizontally, as on a table. If the vertical method is used — and there are a number of good points in its favor — it is probable that the baseboard of your titler should be heavier, to assure steadiness. First, then, let us take up the design of the baseboard. It has, obviously, two functions: (1) to provide a fixed mounting at one end for the easel, or title card holder, and (2) to provide a track along which the camera carriage (and its camera) can be moved. The dimensions which we shall suggest are used for example only. They can be changed easily to fit your own needs, if necessary. In determining them, we have started with the maximum size of the title card most often used by the amateur filmer. This seems to be one measuring 12 inches wide by 9 inches high. A camera of the inverted camera carriage track and the auxiliary lens mount flank the main drawing. Construction is of wood. placed 30 inches from this card (we are assuming, of course, the use of your standard lens) will cover an area approximately 8% by 11% inches in size, thus allowing a ^4 inch edge on each side of the card, to slip it in the holder. This means so far that our baseboard must be at least 30 inches long. But we still have not mounted the camera carriage. For this we have allowed an additional 6 inches as an adequate support for most cameras, and then tacked on 4 inches more for added steadiness. This brings the total length of the baseboard to 40 inches, and. to give it a firm footing, we have selected a width of 6 inches. (See main sketch in Fig. 1.) The next step will be to attach to this baseboard the inverted track through which the camera carriage will slide. Before this is done, however, a narrow slot should be cut lengthwise down the center of the baseboard, extending between points 2 inches from each end of the board. This slot need only be wide enough to allow the free passage of a wing nut and bolt assembly, but not so wide as to pass the head of the bolt. The under face of the slot should be set into the bottom of the baseboard deeply enough that this bolt head does not protrude. (See detail of section through base in Fig. 1.) With the slot completed, we are now ready to attach the inverted track. Its simple, two part design should be quite clear in the general and detail section sketches. As will be seen, the camera carriage end is left open to accept this carriage (and another unit to be discussed), while on the far end [Continued on page 85] An easy to make titling device which combines all the essentials of this much needed accessory -f i x i — *■ A i i > i FIG. 2. How to shown in sketch compute the height of camera carriage specifically to fit your camera is above. This basic design serves both 8mm. and 16mm. filmers.