Opening a “can” he unrolled a bit of the end, the blank “trailer” that is put between the rollers and toothed gears so that when the machine is started the picture begins properly. “It isn’t marked ‘non-flam’,” he called to Cliff. “It’s just marked with the regular kodak marking in the edge.”
“Then be careful,” Cliff said. “It will blaze up, then. Watch what you do and don’t hold it still while it’s in front of the flame!”
“Maybe you’d better come and work it,” Tom urged.
Margery ran lightly across to take Cliff’s end of the sheet. She and Nicky, tall enough to lift it four or five feet up, held the sheet.
“Now, we put the roll on this spindle,” Cliff said “Then we run the end over this guide roller, down through this ‘gate’ and aperture plate, so it lies flat, then over the lower guide, and fix the end onto the spindle in the ‘take-up’ magazine at the bottom. Now she’s all set.”
He gave the attached handle a small turn and saw that the action was perfect.
“Now for the lamp!” he said. “I hope——”
“She’s O.K.,” said Tom excitedly. “I can smell the gas and the base is tight now.”
“Tell the chief we make the other man’s magic work!” he told Margery.
In her clear, treble tones she informed the company. Outside the men pressed closer in. There was a tense expectancy in the air. All eyes focused on Tom.