Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Griswold Splicer Story

This is topic Griswold Splicer Story in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-19-2018, 11:29 AM:

I think you will all be floored by this film about Griswold Splicers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AFs2JXRQWM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0vas2VDyMO5s6llB-eIY6J96am-xd70y4q4z5GxOLS4mAb094oGJ5MsI4

Posted by Gordon Bachlund (Member # 124) on 11-19-2018, 01:10 PM:

Ah yes, I remember them well.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-19-2018, 01:29 PM:

I worked with two of those machines, the first one at the drive-in where I started projecting -- it had a broken handle from being dropped.

The other thing I remember about the drive-in splicer was, the scraper had been misplaced so we had to use razor blades to scrape the film. Then one day there were no razor blades, so we had to use the sharp edge of a pull-tab from a pop can.

The second and last Griswold splicer I used was at the Roxy. I'm sure we heaved it into the trash unceremoniously when we got our tape splicer. I wish we'd kept it now, considering it probably was one of the originals out of that factory.

Posted by Phillip Grace (Member # 2262) on 11-19-2018, 06:11 PM:

Brilliant, Mark. Thanks!

Posted by Simon Wyss (Member # 6218) on 11-22-2018, 01:36 AM:

Chuffed to bits by the well-made film. Most interesting story and a very fast made splice with 16-mm. stock. Methylene chloride in the cements then

I have a Premier joiner, somewhat similar to the Griswold, which is no surprise because the Griswold patent expired in 1937.

Yeah, sad facts about the mechanical industry behind motion pictures. Will there be something fresh again?

Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 11-22-2018, 06:44 AM:

I always used a razor blade instead of the scraper. A little spit to help loosen the emulsion made for a thoroughly clean scrape. Dry it off, apply cement (Harwald was the best) and bingo, a perfect splice. Tape splicers became popular after I left the business. I still two, have a 35mm and a 16mm splicer.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-22-2018, 01:53 PM:

quote: Rick Raskin
I always used a razor blade instead of the scraper.

I worked at the drive-in first, and that was a slap-dash booth operation at best...we were all pretty young and stupid. I never even knew there WAS a scraper until I moved over to the Roxy (when I was 19)!

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-22-2018, 08:47 PM:

Nice short film.

I have one of the black Griswold splicers (the deluxe model with a little light bulb inside it) and also a grey "Neuscope" splicer intended for splicing film with CS perfs. Other than the pins, the Neuscope looks exactly like the regular Griswold model. Were they made by Neumade somewhere else, or were they made by Griswold, but with Neumade labels?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-24-2018, 11:09 AM:

I believe Griswold made them for Neumade. Didn't they mention that in the movie.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 7758) on 11-27-2018, 01:51 PM:

Yep. At 13'02": "On January 17, 1976, the Griswold Machine Works received their last order from their distributor, the Neumade Corporation, for 2,000 R-3 and R-2 splicers. The order was completed and shipped in April of the following year. On May 8th [1977] an auction was held..."

The good news is that the Port Jefferson theater (aka Art Cinema), still exists as "Theatre Three." See the Cinema Treasures listing.