Harold Brown BFI The first film protection officer of the national archive. During his 49 -year career with the Archive, Brown’s scientific approach resulted in a large number of highway techniques and discovery that continues to shape film protection today.
In 1967 Fiaf The Berlin Congress presented the latest innovation of Brown – a handmade communication step printer. Such printers manually copies a film edition to a frame each time. It can be troublesome, but this complex framework process means that the conservatory can safely reproduce the early and damaged film stock that is very fragile for the more standard reproduction processes of the archive.
Designed and built by Brown himself, the printer was built without budget using materials ready for him. Look closely and Meccano, old film printer pieces, wood, nails, screws, springs and you will see elastic. First, a applicable model (Mark I) was built in 1957, and for the next decade, the design was hurt with the support of professional engineers. After too much trial and error, the fourth recurrence – sign Iv – He produced Brown’s results.
When signing Iv It may appear primitive, in fact it is a very versatile piece of equipment. While allowing the operator to monitor and closely control the printing process, he appeals to a wide range of film materials in various separation.
The original film wrapped in reel at both ends of the machine and welcomes the new, raw film stock through a horizontal wooden door. The operator draws a stalk to the side of the door that controls the vertical movement above the lamp and consequently the exposure. The film passes through the machine with the permission of a pair of carrying pins that can be adjusted to compensate for non -standard holes. Before the gate, velvet pads, with additional customizable guides on both sides of the film, keep in place and prevent movement in the films. At the end of the process, raw film stock falls loosely into a slightlyputable bag.
Brown continued to make improvements in the sign Iv In the years following the Berlin presentation. With the help of a mechanical shutter and a stronger lamp, it increased the speed of the machine (initially took each frame press for five seconds) and added a small engine, which means that the machine can operate both manual and automatically. Finally, as a real testimony to the versatile of the printer, Brown expanded a 9.5 mm film to 16 mm and a 28 mm film to 35 mm.
When Harold Brown retired in 1984, so is the sign. IvHowever, the printer lives as a valuable demonstration of archive innovation. It was used for education and today, BFI From the national archive, J. Paul Getty JR protection Center is protected as a source of inspiration for future generation film archives.
Produced with support BFI The Heritage Fund by rewarding the National Lottery Fund Screen.
