xviii
94
4.
in the 160 ignition,
Rough splices from one roll of film had a very low stability.
In my opinion, celluloid which lasts for only three minutes
heating tost, is so unstable as to be liable to spontaneous
(iii) Additionalremarks.
It will be seen that the total quantity of unstable film found is very small, One of the dangers, in fact, of bulk packs of celluloid is that its stability as a whole is not greater than that of its most unstable portion, since only a small amount of material is needed to imite the whole.
Another consideration is worth noting with respect to this commodity. It may perhaps best be shown by a comparative tablo of the differences in quality between motion picture film and the washed product:
Motion picture film.
Product of high price, carefully cm-- trolled in quality.
Nover very old, as after a few years becomes useless for showing.
Each roll packed individually in a can. Must be kept clean.
Usually stored in relatively small quantities.
Presence of gelatine emul tion tends to "damp" effects of fire
to some extent.
(iv) Origin of the instability.
Washed film.
A relatively low-priced waste product. Quality much more variable.
Nearly always older.
Packed 500 lbs. in one container. Need not be specially clean,
Stored in bulk.
No gelatine emulsion.
No theory to account for the cause of the instability can be put forward. As it is particularly marked in certain splices, it may have been an accidental contamination of the film cement used; but no data are available from which a reliable conclusion can be draw.
7.
Summary
Investigations of the fire were commenced on 23 Sep. 48 and concluded this present day.
The premises of No. 5 Godown were examined and the commodities and surroundings, as found after the fire, are described in the Report.
A quantity of film found in 'the roadway was found to be nit- rate film. The stack of truns which had contained this commodity was examined and described.
Effects of the explosion and blast were notel, The small win- dow in Scavenging hand was described and a theory for its condition formulated,
The upstairs flats, and promises generally, were examined. The observations made were correlated with the burning of the commodities in the godown.
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