The Moving picture world (September 1921)

September 24, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 391 National Association Seeks Amendment to Used Film Freight Classification THE National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, through its transportation committee, is now endeavoring to secure an amendment to the freight classification of such film by freight without its actual mutilation. P. H. Stilson, chairman of the committee, and Albert de Roode, counsel, have arranged for a hearing early in October before a joint committee of the Official Classification Committee and the Western Classification Committee, at which arguments will be presented on behalf of the industry to abolish the present requirement of the railroads whereby all used film must be scrapped before it can be transmitted by freight from the film exchanges to their home offices. Mr. de Roode has already filed with the classfication committees a brief embodying the national association's arguments for reclassification. The advantages to be secured by removing the present compulsory mutilation rule are summarized in Mr. de Roode's brief as follows : The Advantages "A dormant source of revenue to the railroads would he opened. Selfish busi ness interest would preclude taking advantage of freight rate as against the time gained by express shipment. A limitation of liability would remove one of the main objections to the freight shipment of motion picture film. A more compact and orderly method of shipment of used film. The fire hazard would be improved. A very grave problem in the film industry would be solved with to the railroad companies." Mr. De Roode states that the mutilation of film destroys a considerable portion of its value for reclamation, as the average price of film, in fairly good condition, for reclamation, is 7 cents a pound, while mutilated or perforated film brings scarcely more than 3 cents a pound. Three Elements of Value "In the reclamation of film there are three principal elements of value," says Mr. de Roode: "The utilization of the silver and other chemical content of the photographic emulsion on the nitro-cellulose base. The utilization of the base when in high grade condition for recoating with photographic emulsion. The utilization of strips of film not in condition for recoating for trailers or for patch ing and joining. At the beginning and end of motion pictures there are what are known as trailers, long strips of film which are used to start the roll of film going through the projection machine before the actual picture is projected and to wrap the outside of the rolled picture when not in use to as to protect the actual picture from damage. In patching and repairing pictures it is more economical to use reclaimed film than new or spoiled film from which the photographic emulsion has not been removed." Would Reduce Fire Hazard On the subject of fire hazard, Mr. de Roode's brief states that mutilated film is more susceptible to ignition and decomposition in transit, whereas freight shipments of compactly rolled reels will enable a standard and compact type of container to be devised which will lend itself to more economical loading for freight transportation and will also tend to reduce the fire hazard. "The situation at present is that in these many exchanges located in different parts of the country, used film is piling up in large quantities," says Mr. de Roode. "The railroads are losing this