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Tips from the Archive - from the Debonair Film Collectors List
By Rob Foxon

Tip from the Archive: Last year, the projector failed in our very first show of the new season. At
first it appeared to be a straightforward lamp failure but it soon became apparent that one of the
lamp pins had become overheated and welded itself inside the lampholder. Halogen lamps are low
voltage high current devices and any blackening and tarnish on the lamp pins will cause
resistance, heat and burning. The pins on new lamps oxidise and tarnish in storage. Scrape them
bright with a scalpel or knife before fitting to ensure maximum life.
Tip from the Archive: Acetic film seems to be the topic of the month amongst our customers
with several contacting us for advice. The strong vinegar smell is acetic gas given off by the film
which may be absorbed by other reels, thus spreading the problem. It can affect any B/W or
colour acetate film stock. Isolate the films concerned and keep them cool in cans away from the
rest of your collection. In our experience, most of the films affected seem to originate from the
US, perhaps from areas where high temperatures and humidity are the norm. Storing films in
cardboard boxes is not advised as it is thought that the acid contained in some types of cardboard
may also be a trigger.
News from the Archive: Black & white film projected in colour? Well the Kodak Kodacolor
Lenticular system did just that. A chance find of some Kodacolor film (process before Oct 1929!)
and some help from Kevin Brown at Nottingham in bringing an old Bell & Howell Model 57
silent projector back to life; together with the special Kodacolor lens supplied by one of our
customers has enabled us to demonstrate it ourselves. The lenticular ribs on the base side of the
special B/W film scatter the light in three directions through the coloured filters on the front of
the special lens. The result is remarkably good colour but with only a 250 watt lamp, there is very
little light on the screen! This fascinating pre-colour film system was very short lived and
replaced by Kodachrome in 1936. (Repeated from last year as it's too late to think of something
new this time!)
Tip from the Archive: Most of us project films using a wide aperture, f1.2 or similar, lens for
maximum brightness on the screen, however this does not produce the sharpest image and is made
worse with old and twisty prints. A smaller aperture lens, f1.6 or similar, will produce a sharper
image, but at the expensive of brightness. Everything in photography is a compromise! A longer
focus lens (example 64 mm) will also help to improve sharpness, but this is only an option in a
hall.
Tip from the Archive: Film storage seems to be the topic of the month with our customers, which
takes us back to our very first tip from the archive. Cardboard boxes are fine for sending films
through the post but keep the films in your permanent collection in matching spools & cans.
These protect your films from any sudden changes in temperature and the cans support the weight
of any films stored above, not the reels inside. If you must use boxes, store them upright on the
shelf but remember, the acid in the cardboard may eventually trigger acetic (vinegar) syndrome
in the films.

Tip from the Archive: Halogen lamps are low voltage high current devices and any blackening
and tarnish on the lamp pins will cause resistance, heat and destroy the projector lampholder. The
pins on new lamps are often black with oxidisation in storage. Scrape them bright with a scalpel
or knife before fitting to ensure maximum life.

20 REEL DEALS June 2019