General Information

Serial #

KM 40120906

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal/ Synthetic/ Glass.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

144.6 cm

Width

81.3 cm

Height

181.4 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Photography

Category

Cine images

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Motiograph

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Illinois

City

Chicago

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

1939-1970 (approx.) replaced by 16mm Bell & Howell.

Canada

Used in the Canadian pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair in New York and then moved to Rideau Hall (info. from Jim Mitchell, Ottawa, July 31, 1990). The World's fair in Paris in 1925 revolutionised the art and design world by introducing the Art Modern style, the design patent (US D111602) draws inspiration from this movement and truly represents the feel of the late 1920's and the 1930's.

Function

Projects 35mm film with sound.

Technical

The Enterprise Optical Company of Chicago, founded by Alvah C. Roebuck, was responsible for many motion picture projector innovations, one of which was the Motiograph projector. Enterprise Optical changed names in 1936 to Motiograph. The first projector released in 1938 was the Motiograph model K that included double bearings, a one-piece shutter that was moved between the light source and the film - allowing less heat to be transferred to the film, and a faster framing device. The purpose of the shutter was to create a better illusion of motion between the frames, improving the mechanism of the shutter reduced flickering. Because of an agreement with Electrical Research Products Inc., a Western Electric subsidiary, Motiograph was able to change the sound system in the Model K to the Mirrophonic patent held by Western Electric. The Model K was the last projector produced by Motiograph prior to WW2. The arc lamp, manufactured by the Brenkert Light production Company of Detroit, Michigan, seems to incorporate three patents issued between 1937 and 1941. These patents are for the design (US D111602), the lamp (US 2241179 - filed in 1938), and the ventilating system (US 2101668). The second patent dealt with improvements to the lamp door allowing it to open fully while using less space in the projection booth. The Third patent (the only patent actually found on the artefact) creates a better ventilation system for arc lamps while removing the ash but not extinguishing the low amperage arc. This coupled with the Motiograph's improved rear shutter allowed for increased heat dissipation and lessened the risk of warping or melting the film.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

.001: Mfr. plate reads: 'MOTIOGRAPH/ INC./ CHICAGO, U.S.A.'; Patent plate reads: 'U.S. PATENT NO. 1911134/ OTHER PATENTS PENDING'; Printed on small, square pane of glass: 'MOTIOGRAPH REPRODUCER/ MIRROPHONIC DELUXE/ LICENSED BY ELECTRICAL RESEARCH PRODUCTS INC., UNDER U.S./ PATENTS OF AMERICAN TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH CO., WESTERN/ ELECTRIC CO. INC., & ELECTRICAL RESEARCH PRODUCTS INC.,/ FOR USE ONLY WITH THE EXHIBITION OF MOTION PICTURES'; Mfr. and model name of lamp unit reads: 'BRENKERT/ ECONARC'; Brenkert mfr. info on back of lamp unit reads: 'SUPER-EFFICIENT/ PROJECTION LAMP/ MODEL E 3/ SERIAL 8560 [stamped in]/ PATENT 2,101,638/ OTHERS PENDING/ BRENKERT LIGHT/ PROJECTION CO./ MFRS./ DETROIT, MICH. U.S.A.'; Markings on shutter control box reads: 'PRESTO-CHANGEOVER/ TRADE MARK/ AUTOMATIC SHUTTER CONTROL/ TYPE G [stamped in] 110 [stamped in] VOLTAGE/ SER. No. 376 [stamped in] A.C. 15 AMP. [stamped in] CURRENT/ PAT. APP. FOR/ MFD. BY/ DOWSER MFG. CORP. NEW YORK'

Missing

Complete From CA of 03/08/2002 by Matthew Bruce: No - appears complete

Finish

Black wrinkle paint overall.

Decoration

N/A