UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS—A MICROFILMING SERVICE FOR SCHOLARS
| Pages | 23-31 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb026082 |
| Date | 01 February 1946 |
| Published date | 01 February 1946 |
| Author | EUGENE B. POWER |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS—A MICROFILMING
SERVICE FOR SCHOLARS
by EUGENE B. POWER
President,
University Microfilms
Inc.
THE
year 1938, not so distant in point of
time,
but early in modern micro-
film history, saw the establishment of University Microfilms as the first
commercially operated microfilm service to serve the needs of scholars and
libraries. Other laboratories had been established earlier at the National
Archives, the Library of Congress, and the University of Chicago, but each
of these had the benefit of outside funds for equipment and overhead expenses
and each was primarily concerned with servicing its own collections. Uni-
versity Microfilms sought to provide effective microfilm service at rates
comparable with those of subsidized laboratories.
Early equipment, in comparison with that available to-day, was simple,
yet it functioned effectively and served a real need. One of the cameras, the
second flat-bed camera ever built (in 1935), is still in
use.
The first to be used
in England, it was placed in the British Museum. Two Graflex Photorecord
cameras completed the camera equipment. Although difficult to use, they
were the best available, and much good work was done with them.
Processing equipment consisted of two Stineman reels and a squirrel-cage
dryer. For making positives a Stineman printer, all that could be afforded
in the beginning, was soon replaced by a Bell & Howell motion-picture
printer. In addition there was a small amount of miscellaneous equipment
such as splicers, inspection lenses, metal supply reels, film, cartons, &c.
As new and better equipment was offered by the manufacturers and as an
increased volume of business warranted, additions and improvements were
made. Space was added to the existing building and additional personnel
trained. The war increased the need for microfilm service by the govern-
ment, while the size and priority of some of the contracts made possible the
purchase of equipment otherwise out of
reach:
equipment which now can
be used for the production of better microfilm for libraries at reduced cost.
A brief description of present facilities may be of interest. Since the intro-
duction of the Microfile cameras by the Recordak Corporation, these
cameras have been used exclusively. They are by far the simplest and most
economical to operate and produce the finest microfilm made to-day. The
model C-1 is used for the copying of bound newspaper files and other large
sheet copy, reproducing sheets up to 36X 54 inches at one exposure. Reduc-
tion ratios range from 12 to 30. The model D, with or without book-
holder, is used for most bound volumes and smaller sheets, with reduction
ratios of 8-30 possible. Both models accommodate 35-mm. and 16-mm.
film, either perforated or unperforated. The average resolving power is 115
to 125 lines per millimetre. One very useful feature is a beam of light pro-
jected down through the camera and showing the exact area of copy covered.
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