Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1914)

286 THE MOMNG PICTURE WORLD From Chicago. O. Katzenberger, Chicago, III., contributes the following: Enclosed find a photograph of a moving picture projector and camera, which I designed and built myself, although I am not an operator. I am sending you this letter in the hope that it may help some of the boys. I am a reader of the Moving Picture World, and a close observer of technical practice. In the issue of November 22, I noticed an article based on a new take-up device that will remove all unnecessary strain on the film. Now, I do not like to discourage anyone who tries to improve anything, but about three years ago I made precisely the same device for the take-up reel in my camera. I found that it did not work any better than the old method, for this reason; it requires power to raise the arm which shifts the friction roller that rides on the round disc when the friction roller is traveling on the largest surface of the disc, so there must be a side strain on the bearings. If this were not the case the manufacturer of these machines would have used them long ago. Now I had another idea which is applied to the projector you see in the picture. It is a uevice which will move the film faster and causes it to stop longer in front of the aperture, with the result that I could use a shutter with narrower wings and thus utilize a greater per cent, of the light. I found that it worked splendidly, but was too hard on the sprocket holes of the film, therefore side-tracked it. o mm 0 0 a C) C3 u d a C3 a CZf □ 14 0 0 \ >— D O D The appended sketch will show how the apparatus works, and it may be of assistance to some operators or mechanics. Shaft B makes two revolutions to every one of shaft A. At every alternate revolution of shaft B cam C will move cam D so as to interlock pin E with star wheel F and trip it at high speed. At every other revolution of shaft B cam C will release cam D and spring G will move cam D back to its place so that pin E will pass without tripping the star wheel. We are obliged to you, brother Katzenberger. for your contribution to the department. The projector and camera seem to be from a mechanical standpoint a very creditable piece of work. As to increasing the speed of the film in the way you mention, I could have told you that would not have worked. There are several methods of performing that particular stunt, but the trouble is a movement of about five or six to one is as much as the sprocket holes will stand up under. I could publish literally hundreds of schemes of this kind which have been tried out by machine manufacturers, but they all have been discarded, due to the weakness of the film itself. If it were possible to incorporate into the film a very thin metal strip, so as to bring the strain on the edge of the metal and allow of the increasing of the speed of the film movement it would be a great thing, but_ such a thing probably will never be successfully done. Projection By Reflection. L. A. Young, Norwich, Conn., arises to make the following speech: Enclosed find $2.50 for another copy of the Handbook. I am ordering this, not because I want to read it, far be it from such, as this is the third one I have ordered, and I believe I know it al! by heart, but because I have simply got to have it around the place. The other two I have had, I have presented to my assistants, so that now I am "Handbookless" unless you heed this S. O. S. and rush one poco Pronto, Quieh Sabe Senorf (Mexican stuff is all the rage now. Can't grab the *'poco" part, but I'm wise to the rest. — Ed.). As regard the questions, why go to it, old scout, and more power to you. And now this is where I slap you on the wrist. Regarding your arguments against projection by reflection, I think you have just a trace of stubbornness and refuse to be convinced as to the practicability of the thing. I know very well that in your position you cannot afford to boost an article you know nothing about, but, on the other hand, you should remain open to conviction. I say that projection by reflection is possible, also practical, and I have seen the proposition demonstrated. While the device for producing this kind of projection is not perfect, neither is there any perfect machine on the market of the other type, as you very well know. But I am sure of this much: If you were taken into a room where the two types of projectors were in operation at one and the same time, and if you were to judge solely by the results on the screen, it's dollars to the proverbial doughnut that you would, without hesitation, select the optical projector as the best. Now I am not trying to boost any particular device, neither am I looking for an argument, but I thought I would take a slam at you just to keep you from getting too chesty, since if all the boys boost you continually you will need a little dig once in a while. I could start lots of arguments, but what's the use I will save them, so beware! I'm keeping my eye on you and if you show any signs of exaggerated ego, I will let the axe drop. Regarding the question as to whether a mercury tube can be worked with a compensarc, it would cost more than the original rectifier, and the result would not be satisfactory. Well, I've spoke ray little piece for the present, so I will now retire gracefully to the rear and be seated. With best wishes for your future success. P. S. I've got a "Red Indian 7" that can knock the spots off of your "Harley-D." Plainly, brother Young is no enemy to the Handbook. Now look here, you, Mr. Young man, I'm going to land on you. I'm not stubborn, except insofar as I have to be to protect those who look to this department for guidance, and that — not bragging, but as a statement of fact — is a goodly number of operators, managers and exhibitors. If a paper of small circulation and small influence rashly gives approval to a project which may or may not prove successful, no great harm is done, but a paper of large circulation and real influence cannot afford to give its sanction and approval lightly. Thousands depend, at least to a considerable extent, upon this department for advice and guidance in certain matters, to wit: things pertaining to projection. Why is this? The answer is simple. The editor of this department himself created the department and has, so far, steered its course. He has consistently, first, last and all the time absolutely refused to set the seal of bis approval, which is the approval of the department, upon anything whatever, utterly regardless of who owned it, or whether they were or were not advertisers in the paper, until he had first personally examined the device and had it demonstrated to his entire satisfaction that he could conscientiously recommend it. This course has at times been a difficult one to follow, but it has been followed and the result is that our readers know that when the Projection Department says "this is good," it is good. Now projection by reflection is a practical thing experimentally, but I very much doubt, for reasons I have already set forth in the department, that it is pratical on a commercial scale. If it is let its promoters who talk much, but demonstrate considerably less, show me that fact and the moment they do that you will find that I am anything else but stubborn. But until they do do this I'm carrying a banner inscribed, "Show me" and, frankly, I don't believe they can do it, and this belief is based on my knowledge of what such a projector has to do and how it must do it. As to that "Red Indian 7,*' it pains me deeply to be obliged to inform you that that Harley-D of mine can climb a telegraph pole, set on an insulator and sing "God Save the King" to the tune of "Marching Through Georgia," whereas an Indian can only grunt, "Huhl" It Flickers. White River Junction, Vermont, is wound up in a ball of trouble as follows: I am a New York licensed operator and have been running a machine for about four years, but one thing puzzles me, viz: why does my picture flicker? Some days it seems to run without a flicker and other days flickers a great deal. The current is no volt a. c. My shutter is perfect in every way. The machine is a Power's Six A. Your trouble may be very simple, and may not be. However, the first solution which suggests itself is this: some days you may have light films and other days your films may chance to be quite dense. A flicker which would not be noticeable in a dense film might, and probably would, show up very badly in a light film. Another solution might be that on some days you are feeling right strong and chipper and make the wheels go round faster, which would tend to eliminate the flicker, since the higher the speed the less the flicker, whereas on other days perhaps you have had your best girl out to a dance until the wee sma' hours and. in consequence, you have that tired feeling, so that the aforesaid wheels revolve with less rapidity. In other words, maybe some days you run your machine faster than others. It is hard to give you any definite inforjnation, but it is a cinch if the conditions are the same all the time, the flicker will be the same. Your being a "New York licensed operator" doesn't prove much of anything, my dear sir. There are quite some "operators'* who have received license by the New York Examining Board who could not project a decent picture to save their souls.