Microvue Products

M o t OB u b o Ro ll FILM READERS

M odels A vailab le

F e atu res In clude

With electronic blip counters. Built in Retrieval System. RS 232 Connections. RF - 35 35mm Readers.

Automatic 3m loading. Image Rotation. Dual lens. Scanning.

PRODUCTS

Microvue Products Ltd., 112 Boundary Road, St. John's Wood, London NW8 ORH Telephone: 01-3288823 Fax: 01-624 1242

Dear Editor

I have been reading your Micrographics Market Place with Interest, but feel that the average write up on CAR Systems and Optical Disc are too “Up Market” for the average company.

I operate two Microfilm Bureaux and have over 14 three level blip recorded planetary cameras. As you can imagine we have a large customer base none of which need the use of a computer to act as an index system, yet alone an optical disc. Surely this “ bread and butter” type of business is being totally ignored in the press.

I must admit we are somewhat biased since we are manufacturers of Arc Monitor blip retrieval units, manual types which can be fitted to any make of reader printer and automatic types which are dedicated to Canon machines. But the types of systems where they are used would be as follows. 1. Sales Invoices: These are nearly always in strict numerical order so all you need do is to index the first invoice number on the film and then inform the monitor which invoice you need and the reader will display the image within seconds. 2. Purchase Invoices: Most companies after they have tied up the delivery notes with purchase invoices put them into computer batches which are in numerical sequence. By using the two level blip film the retrieval units are able to find the beginning of any batch within seconds. It is then an automatic browse through each batch which, normally contains twenty documents to find the image you require. One of our customers has batches within country hence the three level blips system comes into use. 3. Correspondence/Clients Files: These are nearly always in account number order. With file blips on the file covers and page blips on the pages within the files all you need to do is to inform your monitor blip retrieval unit of the file number at the start of the film and the file you require and the file will again be found within seconds. Once you have found the file the automatic browsing features on the machines make it easier to fine the particular document you want and the automatic print functions can print the entire file in reverse order so that they are collated in the correct chronological order.

All the above can be easily obtained without any key strokes on a computer. One of the main problems of all Optical Disc System or Computer Aided Retrieval System is the length of time it takes to key stroke into the data system the required fields, account numbers etc. The difference between the input to a microfilm system by not using a computer to act as index would be in the ratio of 6000 documents input per day per unit as opposed to only 2000 or less. Considering the retrieval rate is only to a small percentage of the total file surelyit is best to get the system miniaturised by the fastest and cheapest means available.

Another one of our customers is still a strong believer of a jacket system. It is surely much easier to pick up a jacket and have all the information collated onto one fiche which you can read at your desk on a £250 reader as opposed to a computer giving you 14 different rolls of film to look up on a £10,000 reader printer where there is already a queue! With the new jackets with printing on the ribs giving you a precise location on every image ie A1 to E14 a database if it is really required can be added at a later date.

I don’t know if these comments are of any benefit to you in your next magazine, you may possibly like to include them in application studies. I expect that 90% of all microfilm systems are based on the above type of applications and the CAR or Optical Disc will only be approximately 10% of the total market although they seem to obtain 90% of the publicity.

Yours sincerely R. C. Crowley Managing Director, Arc Microfilm Limited Unit 20, Cloud Hill Enterprises, East Court Road, Temple Cloud, Bristol BS18 5BX.

I apologise unreservedly if, indeed, Mr. Crowley’s allegation, that my magazine is concentrating too much on the ‘high-tech ’ side o f Micrographics, is accurate. The fact that I have, in the past, been crusading against this very situation in competitive journals, makes it even worse if I am falling into the same trap. I will, therefore, endeavour to keep my feet on the ground in future issues though, in my defence, 1 can only publish information that I receive from my readers, so some o f the onus must be on you! - Ed.

Hannover Fair 8th - 15th March 1988 Dear Editor

Last year I approached various bureaux in the North to see if they were interested in a visit to Hannover. The response was reasonable, and it indicated that a visit for next year could well be of general appeal.

The idea is that we go by ferry on Thursday night, this means that most travellers will be able to work in their bureau until late Thursday afternoon. The ferry is from Harwich, and 1st class twin berth cabins would be used.

On the Friday morning at the Hook of Holland, the party would be collected by coach, and a leisurely trip made to a Hotel in the region of Hannover, arriving late afternoon. Evening meal in the hotel, or depending upon location of the hotel, perhaps an evening at a club?

Saturday morning, coach to Hannover Fair for the whole day, with possibly two hours spent in the Beir Keller before returning to the Hotel, and a second night stay.

Sunday morning, coach to Hannover Fair for those who wish to make another visit. Sunday lunchtime, prepare for a leisurely run across North Germany into Holland for the ferry departing at 22.45.

Monday morning, arrive Harwich at 0645. This gives most people the chance to go into work during the day.

Approximate cost £175.00, the only extra being main meals in Germany.

Some visitors may wish to take their wives with them!

Perhaps you might like to mention this proposed trip in your Magazine, then we can see what the interest will be.

Regards Trevor Lumb. Managing Director of Norbec (Microfilm) Ltd.

Anyone interested in taking advantage o f this offer should contact Trevor direct at: Norbec (Microfilm) Ltd., Dunvegan, Burn Hall Crescent, Burn, Selby, North Yorkshire Y08 8L T. Tel: 0757-87-253.