The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

324 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 26, 1924 one of the elements around, or that you have left a slight haze on the surface of one or more of the lenses. First, borrow an opera glass and examine your picture with it to determine whether or no there are slight streaks of light up or down, or both, from white letters on black ground. If so, then your rotating shutter needs attention. If up or down only, it needs re-timing. If both up and down, and constantly so, then, the master blade of your shutter is too narrow. You may, in this case, probably eliminate the trouble by setting the shutter at the aerial image, if it is not already there. If it is already there, you must make the blade just a little wider. If it is both up and down intermittently, then your mechanism gearing is worn — not necessarily at the shutter shaft gear. You may eliminate the trouble by hanging a leather strap over the shutter shaft, one end attached to a fixed object and the other to a small weight. This brake will act to keep the shutter constantly in retard. You will then have to re-time the shutter, whereupon all will be well, but the worn gears should be replaced at once, or at least very soon. It is also barely possible that you have a new metallic screen which has a polished surface. That will cause haze. Certainly in one of the before-named things you will locate your trouble. If not, then send a better description of it. It is a pleasure — a very real one — to get around and visit you men, but unfortunately I cannot reach many places, or visit those I do reach very often. Please give my regards to Mr. and Mrs. Duel, also to your friend Manager. New Penna. Cards I am in receipt, through the courtesy of John Wal'<er, Chief Bureau of Inspection, Department of Labor and Industry, Harrisburg, Pa., of samples of the new 1924 license cards, the front and back of which are herewith reproduced. pfnnsrlbanta 0tpartmrnt of Uabor ano 3nbustrp Motion Picture Projectionist*. Lictotc Harrisburg, Pa., January t, 1924. Ctjis is to Certifp ^TJjat wbo*> tlrnatur* to »roJ»rt ix* loo data herrof. ana pbelocni>b or* attached h*r*to, la bvrtbr lloanacd pltton* 10 lb* KlaU of r: , , (or (mm . ,,, (,„,„ 1924 S»rrrt»rjr of Lnt*r and Indottrj. application for renewal of this license PHOTO must be made 30 days prior to the date of its expiration. ThU Licenae Expirea January 1, 1925. of tJ*»otr*p± You will note that up-to-date nomenclature, in conformity with that adopted by the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, is used. I have been told that the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry either has adopted or is contemplating the adoption of a rule requiring that a film fuse be used for port fire shutters, somewhat similar to that described in the Bluebook, but that the question has been raised by some that the film fuse would soon lose its tensile strength, or something of that sort. In my opinion this is nonsense. True, the fuse would become dry and brittle; also it might not retain its entire original tensile strength after a period of use. However, there would still be plent3' and to spare of strength for all purposes, and even though it be deemed advisable to renew the fuses every thirty days, or even every two weeks — well, what of it? That would be no heartbreaking task ! If the Pennsylvania department cares for my opinion in this matter, it is that there is little or nothing in or to the objection. Worth Repeating Looking through some old papers recently I found verses which were published some years ago, but which will stand repeating. Especially will old timers who were familiar with the store-room nickelodeons appreciate them. They were titled "Lizzie Plays the Pictures" (By Wilbur D. Nesbit in Chicago Post) Lizzie plays at the nlckelo — Plays for the moving picture show, All the time must her fingers go With an endless whirl and a rhythmic flow And a ceaseless flitting to and fro; She fakes and vamps till her hands get cramps And there is no tune that she does not know; With a tum-te-tum and an aching thumb She keeps the time with her chewing gum, She chews and chaws without a pause. With a ragtime twist to her busy jaws. And her fingers fly as the hours go by; She pounds the keys with a languid ease Till the folks go home and the pictures cease. But Lizzie plays like a grim machine, And she never thinks what the measures mean, For she's played them oft and the notes don't waft Any thought to her that is sweet and soft; There's a wrangling chime as her fingers climb Up the yellowed keys as she beats the time. For the show that costs but half a dime. And she chaws and chews as she seems to muse On the flying films and the flitting views. And her hands jump here and her hands jump there, While betimes with one she will fix her hair. But she keeps right on with the other hand In a ragtime tune that Is simply grand With Its rum-te-tum as her fingers drum, And a burst of bass when she whacks her thumb On the lower keys, and a sudden frown As she jabs the loud, loud pedal down. But she wears no smile, for all the while She chews and chaws In a solemn style — And at night in sleep all her fingers keep An unchanging flight as they ruse and leap O'er the counterpane in a wild refrain Of the tunes she has played with might and main. And her aching thumb beats a bass tum-tum And she chaws and chews In her hard-won snooze. Mazda Lamps and Light An exhibitor in Kansas wants to know how many hours a Mazda projection lamp ought to last. Replying by mail, I told him that some lamps will outlast others, even when given equal treatment in every respect. That is inevitable because it is utterly impossible to attain absolute uniformity in material and workmanship. However, there is an average. I don't know exactly what it is at this time, BUT remember this, Mr. Mazda user: Any given lamp has the capability to produce a certain, fixed amount of light, which we will, for the sake of this argument, assume to be two hundred hours. That means that in two hundred hours of operation at a fixed voltage — the voltage which will cause the lamp to produce its rated capacity in lumins — the lamp will have produced its full power in illumination, and the filament will have been either exhausted or reduced to a point of low efficiency, which should cause it to be discarded. Here Is the Point And here is the big point. You may get that full amount of illumination in either 200 hours or in a much longer or shorter time, exactly in accordance with how you use the lamp. You may raise the voltage to a point which will cause you to $et the full illumination power of the lamp in half the time, BUT in that case you will have shortened the life of the lamp by probably more than one-half. You may work the lamp constantly at exactly its capacity, in which case it will last the 200 hours, and all will be well. You may underload the lamp, in which case it will require much more time to get the illumination capacity of the lamp, so it will last very much longer. There is just so much light which the lamp will produce. It all depends on how fast you want to get it. Excellent Recently I visited Projectionist Boris Revzin, The Forum Theatre, Bronx, New York City. While there he called my attention to his method of starting his Powers projectors. It is clever and, it seems to me, excellent. It consists merely of a leather strap attached to the arm carrying the idlers which serve to put tension on the driving belt. This strap runs around the front of the projector to a position convenient for the projectionist. To stop the projector he pulls on the strap, thus pulling the idler away from the belt. He fastens it that way by hooking a ring attached to the strap over something — I did not notice what. Then he stops the motor. To start the projector he starts the motor, which instantly comes up to full speed, whereupon, at the proper time, he gradually lets the idler down upon the belt and — well, it works just fine. No objection to it, so far as I can see. Seems to me to be good. 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 Fif>h Avenuf New York Civ