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July, 1909.
THE NICKELODEON,
25
An Improved Moving Picture Machine
By Henri Destynn
IMPROVEMENTS in cinematograph machinery which give great stability to the image and avoid the famiUar and annoying fluttering or winking effect, are described by a contributor to La Nature. These improvements, which are due to a PoHsh inventor named Proszynski, will make it possible, we are told, for an amateur to take pictures for the cinematograph with a camera that may be held in the hand. Says the writer:
"The principal improvements made in cinematographic apparatus have aimed to do away with scintillation and give fixity to the image projected on the screen. Mr. De Proszynski, who has been working on the problem for several years, sought at the outset to perfect the systems most generally used; but he has been led by mathematical analysis of each movement to build an entirely new machine which fulfils well all the conditions imposed upon it. The speed of displacement, at the moment when one image gives place to the following, may be 1/150 second. This makes it possible to leave the
Principles of Proszynski's Machine. 1. Details of Apparatus. 2. Curve Described by Prongs that Move Film.
image on the screen a relatively long time and do away with the 'winking' effect that comes from the action of the shutter. Great stability of the image is obtained, although the film is simply held, without pressure, between guides; the noise is reduced to a slight rustling. The film is grasped softly by the prongs, which do not press down the perforations. This apparatus was shown recently to the Societe de Physique and the Societe d'Encouragement. Experiments have shown that the improvements foreseen by calculation are realizable in practice.
"The band is moved by means of prongs (Fig. 1), which describe a special curve (Fig. 2) one part of which is practically straight (a to h) and the rest circular {he d). The prongs are fixed at the end of a lever controlled by the rotation of a secondary crank A attached to an arm oscillating about a point B. The crank A turns with variable speed, so calculated that it is very great when
the prongs descend and much less when they ascend, that is to say, at the moment when they penetrate and leave the holes.
"The mechanism that produces these variations works in three continuous circular motions — that of the axis of the secondary crank A ( Fig. 1 ) , that of the motor axis or of the fly-wheel V, and that of a ring D that bears the gudgeon. This latter serves as an intermediary between the two others ; it traverses an arm F attached to the fly-wheel and acts on an elastic fork G attached to the end of A. The movement that results from these combinations is really quite complicated, but it should be noted that it is obtained by very simple elements, always in contact with one another and animated by continuous circular motions. This explains the almost silent working of the machine, the slight wear of the holes on the bands of film, even after long use, and consequently the stability of the image.
"Besides the machine intended for ordinary work, as well for projecting views as for taking negatives, Mr. Proszynski has also constructed, on the same principle, an apparatus for the tourist who wishes to take street or country scenes, holding the camera in his hand. A special motor, run by compressed air, enables him to work with about five hundred feet of film, and to obtain, under these conditions, views whose images are as stable as if the apparatus had stood on a tripod. These devices embody great knowledge and remarkable ingenuity. The models that we have seen at work respond well to the foresight of the inventor and it is to be hoped that they will soon be placed on the market. — Translation made for the Literary Digest.
Xne London Exposition
An international exhibition of optical apparatus, kinematographs, films, lantern slides and photographic outfits in general, will be held at the Crystal Palace, London, commencing early in July. There has never been a representative exhibition of kinematography in London and its success is assured. There will be special sections for the display of recently executed films, singing pictures, slides, etc., and the demonstration of kinematographs, lanterns, projectors, etc. Another department will be devoted to recent inventions and patents. Awards will include diplomas for gold, silver and bronze medals as well as "honorable mention." The ofiicial prospectus promises a very interesting exhibition.
Year s Business at Pans fiippodrome
The Paris Hippodrome, which was described in The Nickelodeon for April, has been doing remarkable business. Figures just published give the receipts at the Hippodrome for the year just passed as $127,790, or $10,640 a month. The Hippodrome leads the list with other Parisian moving picture establishments following in this order :
Omnea (run by Pathe Freres), $81,200; Circue d'Hiver, $31,300; Dufayel, $28,000, and Kinema Theater, .$26,000.