Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

64 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW November 4, 1944 New Safety Product OPINION ROUNDUP REVEALS NO RECONVERSION PROBLEM {Continued from Page 62) mediately after the war will probably be the same as we are now furnishing the armed forces with some minor changes. "There have been many improvements developed as the result of war research and they are being incorporated into the projectors we are now delivering to the armed forces, and of course, other changes will be incorporated in the postwar projectors. "We do not believe prices will change noticeably after the war from pre-war prices." Additional Opinion Practically all manufacturers of 35mm. projectors are now in limited production on prewar projection equipment. Assuming that a great demand for projection equipment develops (which is indicated) there could well be a delay as raw materials and other component parts of projection equipment purchased by projector manufacturers from various sources are currently very slow in delivery, and I expect that they will be for a considerable period. The first projectors to be delivered after the war will unquestionably be exactly the same as the pre-war models. Our company has developed a model of a new projector. Inasmuch as a projector is rather a complicated piece of apparatus to manufacture, the tools, jigs, dies and fixtures are correspondingly difficult to manufacture and it should take approximately six months for a manufacturer to become tooled up. This statement, of course, is predicated on the amount of work that will be in the hands of tool and die manufacturers after the war. Unquestionably there will be incorporated in our new post-war projector certain methods of manufacture and certain components which have been gained through a knowledge of war manufacturing activities. Labor costs have materially increased and it is highly probable in my opinion that there will be a further upward trend in wages after V-Day. So much savings as can be effected by good design, workmanship and the use of good machines, tools, jigs, dies and fixtures will undoubtedly be offset by increased labor costs. We do not lean to the belief that there will be a substantial increase but it certainly appears that there will be some increase in prices. Arc Lamps Harry H. Strong The Strong Electric Corp. "Generally speaking the lamp manufacturers have no reconversion problem, it's simply a matter of Government authorization to proceed with peace time products. Some small releases have already been authorized but distribution has been limited to a few emergency requests but with the fall of Germany we expect that the bars will be let down and lamps should be available within sixty days after that date. "I believe most lamp manufacturers will cont'nue with their present design with probably Walls, ceilings, doors and window frames of future homes and business buildings will carry fire extinguishing materials on every square foot of their surfaces. They will be painted with pigments which will include a mixture of calcium carbonate and a resin made by treating paraffin wax with chlorine. Such a combination breaks down under intense heat and gives off carbon dioxide, the veteran fire smotherer. some increase in price based on expected increase in labor and material costs but what percentage is anyone's guess. "Later on there will probably be some added gadgets but I have seen no War developments which might radically affect lamp design." Motors and Generators Irving Samuels Automatic Devices Co. "We have no reconversion problem to speak of because we are still making motors, generators, motor-generators, etc., just as we always did, except on a greatly expanded scale. We have had very, very little available for civilian purposes. "Accordingly, new generators will be available very quickly after restrictions are lifted and the armed services no longer need us. "The immediate postwar generators will certainly be substantially the same design as before, with the exception that new and superior insulation materials, developed during the war, will be used. Due to the very nature of the equipment, we cannot foresee any major improvements or new designs. In other words, the machine will look very much like the pre-war models except that performance and reliability will be improved. "At the present time, prices are exactly the same as they were about five years ago, even in the face of increased costs of labor and materials. This has been made possible due to our tremendously increased production of war material. "From this, it follows that the cost of postwar generators depended not alone upon the price we pay for materials and labor at that time but, also, to what extent the demands for our peace-time products will allow us to approach our war-time volume of production." Air Conditioning B. P. Edelman United States Air Conditioning Corp. ' "These answers represent our own personal opinions and, are based, of course, upon our own situation and our own observations. "Limited air conditioning or cooling installations which do not use mechanical refrigeration will be available, as far as our company is concerned, immediately after present restrictions have been removed by the War Production Board. This might be actually before the end of the war with Japan, and almost assuredly will come when the war with Germany has finished. Blowers, air washers, coils and coil heaters, also evaporative cooling units will be immediately available from us. "Air conditioning equipment (refrigeration type) will not be so readily available, because manufacturers of compressors are not in prodi"-tion. Some of the larger ones, at least several that we know, will take from four to six (Continued on Page 67) We all, occasionally, like to watch a magician saw a lady in half because we all, occasionally, like to be fooled. But not when buying projection room service. Altec employs no tricks in giving you day-in, day-out break-down protection. Our engineers may not be Houdinis, but they can keep your booth in a nice healthy glow all the time. JUTEC 250 West 57fh Street, New York 19, N.Y.J THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY