The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

January 19, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 229 Diggers" would be good, so when I saw th§ sign, in I went, first having coughed up thirty-five centavos to the vamp at the box office. And bullieve muh, son, I was in a frame of mind to roast the living tar out of the unsuspecting projectionist if I again found myself swindled out of my hard earned coin. But there was nary a roast coming! Projectionist, an unusually clever lad (house just off Broadway on Ft. Washington Ave.) did his duty nobly. Instead of a roast there are words of praise for excellent work, as I told Mulcahy after it was all over. Bhoy! I certainly did enjoy that show. Nearly laughed my fool head off. Is "The Gold Diggers" good, did you ask? Properly placed on the screen I'll tell the waiting wurruld it is all of that! Punkly projected of course it becomes punk itself, as I have thirty cents worth of cause to know. The Surprise But it was when I came from the projection room I got the s'prise of my young and unsophisticated life, for when I asked for the manager a rotund, cherubic-faced gentleman was pointed out, a second look at whom caused me to ask : "Say, this surely is not Lee Ochs, former President of the National Exhibitor's League !" And that was exactly who it was. He is owner and manager of the Costello, and one or two other New York City theatres. We had a lengthy and very pleasant chat. He reports good business; also that he has come to appreciate the value of high class projection, for which I'm danged glad, because some years ago he promised faithfully to give me a chance to tell the Chicago convention of exhibitors a few cold facts for the good of their more or less immortal souls and then didn't do it — left me flat, as it were. Ochs said he'd forgot all about the incident. Well I had NOT, darn 'im. Optical Line-Up Joseph Bliven, Projectionist, Empire Theatre, New London, Conn., who is a real, honest-to-God PROJECTIONIST, writes: I see you are busy as ever, trying to do the headwork for the majority of us. Let us hope you will be able to continue to keep us on the right path, even though we may at times be inclined to stray. Here is the optical train lineup I have used for quite some time. Have been too financially busted to get the new lens chart — yet. Crater diameter 20-64ths, carried at a 55degree angle. Collector lens 6%; converging lens 7%, both piano convex. Face of converging lens to aperture 17 inches. Projection lens working distance 4% inches. Opening rear factor of projection lens approximately 1% inches. Projection distance 122 feet, with a 16-foot picture on a Raven Half Tone Screen. Powers 6B projectors, using 2-wing rotating shutters. Carbons % positive and 11-32 Silvertip negative, Westinghouse M. G. set. How does the optical train agree with new lens chart? Am doing a lot of studying when I can get time. Just bought Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers, also Mirrors, Prisms and Lenses, by Southhall. ■ If your collector lens will stand it, I think you will do somewhat better with two 6'/2 piano convex, which will give you a 2% crater distance, whereas you now should have a crater distance of about 3% inches, provided your lenses are not to exceed) 1-16 inch apart. As you now have it, it would require about a 2 3-16 inch free diameter of rear factpr of projection lens to admit the entire ; light beam. With the condenser I have recommended you to try, the free diameter would have to be about 2-16 greater, so you would lose some there. I really don't know which would be best, but since you have 6yZ lenses, try it anyhow and let me know what you think about it. You really should have either projection lenses with back factor of larger diameter, or Cinephor condensers. You can use "half size" lenses, with the back factor full size, in your Powers projectors, since the working distance is more than V/z inches. Under a inch working distance the outside diameter of the projection lens must be reduced to two inches at its rear end, due to the obstructing cross shaft. With the condenser I suggest that you try, the distance from face of converging lens to film will be about 16 inches. Cinephor would really be best, I think, but I also am of the opinion that you might as well ask for the moon. Excellent Reply I have had several replies to the problem of the more or less mysterious shock received from a wire connected to a spark plug when I was thoroughly insulated from the other side of the circuit. As I said, I am not in position to say what is right and what is wrong in this particular thing, but to date all who have answered agree that it is in the nature of condenser action. What seems the most simple, and at the same time shortest, reply comes from Freeman L. Brown, projectionist at the Lyric Theatre, Kalamazoo, Michigan. It follows : Am taking an engineering course In college in forenoons. Think a few of the ideas gained in my studies may aid in throwing light upon the question you brought out in a recent issue, with regard to getting a "jolt" from a spark plug of a motorcycle engine when both yourself and the machine were thoroughly insulated from the ground. How It Happens Were you to touch the plug or wire connected therewith with one hand, and the body of the machine with the other, the GET IT NOW! The Brand New Lens Chart By JOHN GRIFFITHS Here is an accurate chart which belongs in every projection room where carbon arcs are used. It will enable you to get maximum screen results with the equipment you are using. The news Lens Chart (size 15" x 20") is printed on heavy Ledger Stock paper, suitable for framing, it will be sent to you in a strong mailing tube, insuring proper protection. Get this chart now and be all ready to reproduce with maximum screen results the splendid pictures which are coming. Price $1.00 Postpaid Chalmers Publishing Co. 516 Fifrb Avenue New York City current would of course flow directly through your body. When you touch the plug only, however, the current flows into your body, which acts as a condenser. The charge from such a potential, approximating 14,000 volts, is concentrated on the surface of the condenser (your body in this case), and since the skin is the surface, the charge is most largely contained therein. The skin has high resistance when dry, and the intermittent building up of a charge through this resistance is what gives you the shock. When the E M F is removed, the charge passes out of the body through the plug, making the spark a trifle longer. Wet Hand Makes Difference If you will wet your hand and make a connection which will be grasped by the whole hand, the resistance will be reduced and the shock will be less, since the capacity of the coil is small. With regard to touching one side of a circuit charged with 5,000 volts, when thoroughly insulated from the other side, you will get a shock when you first touch it if the current be D C. but not thereafter, since the body has no opportunity to give off its charge in order to receive another. In the same experiment with A C the shock Is continual, sluice the body is charged and discharged with every alternation of the current. I watch the department very closely and will be much interested in your opinion of what I have set forth. Sounds Reasonable 'As I said, I am not well versed in condenser action. However, I know enough about it to say that brother Brown's argument sounds reasonable, therefore I think he is correct. Some time when I have opportunity and time I mean to study up on this interesting subject. Wish I had room to publish all the replies I have received on this problem, but space forbids, and this one, which is plain and short, covers the matter very well. Also I think it agrees well with the idea all the others have expressed. Annual Dinner On December 3rj, 1923, Projectionists' Local Union 550 I. A. T. S. E. & M. P. M. O., Norfolk, Va., celebrated its fifth anniversary at Roanes, on Granby street. There were a number of impromptu speeches by members, and good fellowship was much in evidence. The principal address was made by James McCarthy, president of the local, who was presented with a fountain pen, presumably to be used in recording the excellence of the work of the various members on the silver sheets of Norfolk and vicinity. His address is reported to us as having to do with the art of projection. Let us trust the report is true, though inasmuch as the said report had at least half a dozen references to "motion picture operators" (whatever that may be) I'm not quite so sure about that. Anyhow, 'twas a good speech, so that's that. President McCarthy presided and introduced the speakers. Business manager Frank Sutton also was presented with a fountain pen, presumably to record the few faults found in projection as he visits the theatres checking up on the boys. Resolutions of commendation were unanimously adopted when Thad Twiford and Walter Purdie were called upon for speeches and admitted they had nothing to say. Those present were : James McCarthy, Frank Sutton, Sam Wells, Moros Orronff (I'm NOT responsible for the spelling. Ed.) Thad Twiford, Sir Douglas Hand, C. Comstock, W. Zimmerman, Wm. W. B. Jones, Walter Purdie, Wm. Nelms, Robert Best, Ninie Richtter, N. L. Lankford, L. Spain, Dave Langhorne, Arthur Garvy, Joe Bocardi, L. H. Cooper, Tom Kelley, Red Wilkins, Joe Mooney, George West, Fred Morehead, W. Jones, D. Outten, H. Long, A. Leon, John Madden, Ed. Mahoney and W. P. Bobbit, of Suffolk, Va.