The Moving picture world (December 1920)

920 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 18, 1920 PROJECTION % F.H.RICHARDSON Ventilation Problem L. M. Karnan, secretary Farrugut Club, U. S. Naval Prison, Portsmouth, N. H., has ■a problem which he sets forth as follows: We have a problem with regard to the top ventilation of our projection room. It is situated in the balcony of the main part of the prison. The top of the room is above the top of the windows and it would be Impractical to block the space between the projection room and .the windows. The walls are more than two feet thick, of solid concrete on metal girders, and even should we cut through it would necessitate the carrying of the flue through a tower more than a hundred feet. On page 230 of the Richardson Handbook, Third Edition, I note you speak of carrying a vent pipe from the projection room to the open air outside the building, or "to a special incombustible vent flue." Could you give me any information, or a diagram showing the proper construction of such a vent flue? No Bearing on Subject The reference on Page 230 has little or no bearing on the subject. It is merely a provision of Massachusetts law which requires that if a projection room vent pipe be run through the wall of a building it must join a special, incombustible flue leading above the top of the wall. Friend Karnan would better have consulted the handbook index, where under the general heading "Operating Room" and the subhead "Vent Flue" he would have been directed to page 227. The prison problem seems to be that of finding a place where such a flue may properly end and also to avoid cutting through two feet of concrete and iron and running a long distance. We could not, of course, talk intelligently as to what the possibilities in this •direction might be without a comprehensive plan of the layout or a personal •examination of the premises, either of which is, we suppose, impractical. We would, however, suggest one or two possible ways out of the difficulty — possibly we say, mind you. They, both may be impractical for reasons of which we do not know. First, if there is an ordinary chimney of fairly ample dimensions available, it would be possible to connect with it, using a fan to hurry the air along. The More Feasible Plan Second, and more likely of accomplishment, install a metal vent pipe leading from the projection room wall to the window, as follows: Make the projection room end round, with a suitable hood to receive an exhaust fan of suitable dimensions. In this connection we would suggest two "hoods, and two 18-inch fans blowing into the same pipe, their speed to be controlled by field rheostats. This would make it extremely unlikely that you would ever be entirely without ventilation by reason of fan breakdown. After leaving the projection room wall let the pipe change its shape to wide and flat, the dimensions being the width of the window opening and the thickness sufficient to make a total area of say 200 square inches. Leaving the projection room wall at the projection room ceiling line, or from the Notice to All! PRESSURE on our columns is such that published replies to questions cannot be guaranteed under two or three weeks. If quick action is desired remit four cents, stamps, and we. will send carbon copy of department reply as soon as written. For special replies by mail on matters which, for any reason, cannot be replied to through the department remit one dollar. THE LENS CHART Are You Working by "Guess" or Do You Employ Up-to-Date Methods f You demand that your employer keep his equipment in good order and up to date. He owes It both to himself and to you to do so, but you owe it to him to keep abreast with the times in knowledge and In your methods. The lens charts (two in one, 11x17 inches, on heavy paper for framing) are in successful use by hundreds of progressive projectionists. Don't "guess." Do your work RIGHT. Price, fifty cents, stamps. Address Moving Picture World, either 516 Fifth avenue, New York City; Garrlck Building, Chicago, 111., or Wright & Callendar Building, Los Angeles, Cal. roof if that be practical, let the pipe join the ceiling of the auditorium (which we take to be not much above that of the projection room) at an angle, or if it be a passageway between the projection room and window, then let it curve over the passage, and join the window at its top. You would thus have the required outlet and the circulation by means of the fans. From the outside of the -window you can run a metal pipe above the outer wall, or not, as may seem best. This information is of necessity based mostly on guesswork. If it is insufficient, then we will have to ask more definite information before being able to advise intelligently. Department Helps Russell R. Kerr, projectionist, Indiana, Pa., writes: Brother Richardson: Here goes. I have been reading the department for something like a year, and in that time have learned more than in all the other five years I have been projecting pictures. I have a handbook and a set of Hawkins Electrical Guides. They are both fine. Recently I sent a copy of your article, "Criminally Foolish Laws" to the Department of Labor and Industry of this State, advising them to take advantage of your generous offer to set them right in so Important a matter. I have the following reply: The Reply "Beg to acknowledge yours of recent date regarding article in Moving Picture World of July 20, also criticism of the Safety Standards of the Industrial Board applying to motion picture projectors. This matter will be brought to the attention of the Industrial Board at Its next regular meeting, Tueday, November 9. I thank you for having called my attention to this matter." So Here It Is The letter was signed by the secretary of the board. We do not know if brothei Kerr intended it to be published, but can see no harm in so doing, so here it is. As to the Industrial Board, our offer holds good. If they want bona fide information as to why such ill advised rules and laws not only serve no good purpose, but actually do a great deal of harm, besides working unnecessary hardships on the men, we are quite willing to lay the matter before them, in detail, at their invitation, but we do not feel like taking time to go to Harrisburg unless there is at least a reasonable chance of accomplishing something. Anyhow it is gratifying to know that there is at least one projectionist in the great state of Pennsylvania who is sufficiently energetic to back up our efforts to remove a serious handicap to their work. Canadian Official Reads Dept. From C. F. Spence, secretary of the Canadian Theatre Inspectors' Association and one of the Government inspectors of Manitoba, located at Winnipeg, Manitoba, comes a letter, a section of which reads as follows: At this time, by way of introduction, I may say that I have been a constant follower of your Interesting department in the Moving Picture World for some years past, and have taken part in many discussions by local men having for their subject the various questions and letters published therein. Before entering the Government service I was employed In the theatrical profession for about twenty-seven years. I had the pleasure of organizing Local Union 63 of the stage employees, and later. Local 299 of the projectionists. In fact, friend Richardson, I am now what Is commonly termed an "old timer," 'though I do claim to have young ideas. I endeavor to keep abreast with the times, instead of being like some old-timers who persist in sticking to the old ways. Canadian Officials Progressive We are glad indeed to know friend Spence; also to know that the Canadian official, unlike, we are sorry to say, all too many of our United States officials, is a progressive — an old-timer who has the advantage of the experience of years, which combined with progressiveness is about the very best combination of which we know. Incidentally it has struck us that at least in western and middle Canada, officials have to be on the job to hold it. There are two kinds of "old-timers." One is the sort brother Spence typifies, who links experience garnered through years of practical work with modern ideas gathered from technical books, and the ideas advanced by others through technical departments. The other is the old-timer who is just simply an "old-timer," and nothing more. He has the experience of years, yes, but that experience has served only to fossilize him. He has only that very limited knowledge which may be gained through personal experience. He sneers at books and "departments," forgetting that the department represents and is merely a clearing house of knowledge, and the books are for the most part