Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 20, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 401 Motion Picture Photography Conducted by CARL LOUIS GREGORY, F. R. P. S. i UMJ^^UjaosgnM^o^^ Inquiries. QUESTIONS in cinematography addressed to this department will receive carbon copy of the department's reply by mall whan four cents In stamps are inclosed. Special replies by mall on matters which cannot be replied to in this department, $1. and it is surprising how many of them are consumed during one month. We have found by the following simple method that we coule. Manufacturers' Notice. It Is an established rule of this department that no apparatus or ether goods will be Indorsed or recommended editorially until the excellence of such articles has been demonstrated to Its editor. Hints for the Laboratory Worker. By Gerald A. Prager. ONE of the chief factors in the proper conductance of the motion picture laboratory is the care given to the minor details of production. It is true that no time or labor is too much for the actual taking of the motion picture, but usually it seems that a negative or print must be made at almost breakneck speed, and in view of this fact we give a few simple hints that may be of some service to the laboratory worker in expediting his work. How often have we gone into the laboratory, and found six or seven racks lying against one another, waiting either to go into the washing tanks or onto the drying drums ; or have we ever gone into the joining room and found heaps of scrap film laying about on the floor and elsewhere for the want of a proper container for same. We show the sketch of a film rack truck (Fig. 1) that we have found /VZA7 /^ACKCAfm/ZR, Fig. 1. practical and inexpensive to construct. The sides of the carrier are made of y8-inch wood, and the uprights are of %-inch stock with a drain hole cut in one end, as shown, to carry off any superfluous water. The wheels are placed as indicated, one in the front and rear and two in the center on either side. (A preferable material is sheet and angle iron. Ed.) There should be plenty of play between the frame and the dividing rods, to allow the frames to be easily removed. A fireproof film scrap can that is useful around the busy assembling room is shown in Figure 2. The scrap can is made of ordinary sheet metal to dimensions as illustrated on the sketch. The door on the upper end of the can is controlled by a spring as indicated. At the back of the can is a hook to fasten the can to the cutting table or to bend over the cross bar generally found under all metal tables. Ofttimes we have a number of copies to make of the same negative, and the rolls while waiting to be assembled and joined if not placed in the proper containers are apt to become mixed and cause confusion. We therefpre show a sketch of a roll rack that is easy to construct and practical (Fig. 3). The rack is made of %-inch stock, to the dimensions as given in the sketch. The metal frames at the bottom of the tray are for the purpose of inserting the number of the roll in the corresponding section. The frames can be purchased in any hardware store. One of the main accessories of the film laboratory are razor blades, Fig make one blade take the place of three. The blades are taken to the machine shop, and with the aid of a very fine jeweler's hack saw are divided into thirds as in Figure 4. They are then placed in holders 2 & ,\ .<+'> <■*"> 4 4-~ A' 4-' 4' 4' *-T " r N ! \ ■ -J4 to* ,~t*,r,~6 7Xat-£. /^Oi-i. /-fact} "•"re* Fig. 3. as described and can easily be reversed by moving the thumb screw ia the handle, thus saving the original cost of the handles many times in the saving of the blades. We have found that by the use of two paper fasteners such as manu Fig. 4. &a Y//Y6. . Fig. 5. •Copyright, 1918, by the Chalmers Publishing Co. factured by the O. K. Fastener Company film can be attached to the slats on the drying drum (Fig. 5) far more securely than by pins, with the additional features of not rusting or bending, nor do they tear the film, and can be used a number of times. If the film is desired to be dried rapidly a hot air hand blower similar to the ones used by shoe shining parlors are very practical for the purpose, being played on the film while the drum is in motion.