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Stroboscopic discs
Nov., I954.]
CURRENT TOPICS
Stroboscopic Discs.--It has been suggested at the Boston Naval Shipyard that stroboscopic discs be manufactured in the shop and used to set the speed governors of motion picture projectors. If made correctly (each for a specific rpm.), the discs can be used for accurate settings. A 60-cycle frequency fluorescent or ¼ watt neon lamp serves as a light source. The discs can be used as a substitute stroboscopic timing device at facilities where the faster and more nearly accurate stroboscopic tachometer is not available. Air-Sea Rescue Drift Buoy.--Under contract with the Office of Naval Research, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has developed a device, the Air-Sea Rescue Drift Buoy, to aid in locating survivors of naval aircraft and vessels abandoned at sea. With modern devices, survivors of disasters at sea can transmit the location of the accident, but winds and currents bear the emergency craft away from the accident site before the rescue craft appear. Detailed on the spot broadcasts of weather conditions, winds and currents would enable modern electronic wizards to compute drift and give the location of the survival craft any given time. Office of Naval Research Scientists, however, believed development of a satisfactory air-searescue device would be simpler than solution of the complex weather problems. New Camera Holder.--The "Sholderpod" has just been introduced by the Monu Inventions Corporation of Englewood, Colorado. The new camera holder, designed to replace the tri-pod, is a precision built, adjustable camera platform made of light weight aluminum. This new camera accesory derives its name from the fact that the
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shoulder of the photographer is used to steady the camera. A curved aluminum piece, shaped like a half "U," fits snugly over the shoulder. The adjustable extension has a pistol grip fitting at the other end which gives maximum flexibility and steady shooting. Quickly taken apart, the "Sholderpod" can be stowed in most any camera case or gadget bag. While new on the market, those who have used it have been quick to point out the many advantages of the "Sholderpod." It has improved the quality of many home movies, especially where "panning" is involved, by eliminating the excessive motion generally found in such efforts. Very handy for use with heavier type press cameras as the weight of the camera is on the shoulder. Used by many professionals when shooting at slower shutter speeds.
New Method of Bonding Fibreglass.JThe Bureau of Ordnance has announced the development of a new structural material for bonding fbreglass, which will produce laminates and tubular products of superior strength. Instead of the conventional method of bonding fibreglass with resins and organic materials, the new methods combine metals and inorganic substances, or combinations of both. Fibreglass filaments are formed in the usual way by the use of appropriate refractory furnaces and bushings. As the filaments emerge from the furnace at high speeds, they are individually coated with metallic and other inorganic substances. Metal coatings, such as iron, nickel, molybdenum, aluminum, zinc, lead, tin, and copper, have been applied. The coated fibres are then bonded and compacted to form tubular products and laminates in a subsequent stage of the process which involves the application of suitable conditions of heat and pressure with or without the
CURRENT TOPICS
Stroboscopic Discs.--It has been suggested at the Boston Naval Shipyard that stroboscopic discs be manufactured in the shop and used to set the speed governors of motion picture projectors. If made correctly (each for a specific rpm.), the discs can be used for accurate settings. A 60-cycle frequency fluorescent or ¼ watt neon lamp serves as a light source. The discs can be used as a substitute stroboscopic timing device at facilities where the faster and more nearly accurate stroboscopic tachometer is not available. Air-Sea Rescue Drift Buoy.--Under contract with the Office of Naval Research, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has developed a device, the Air-Sea Rescue Drift Buoy, to aid in locating survivors of naval aircraft and vessels abandoned at sea. With modern devices, survivors of disasters at sea can transmit the location of the accident, but winds and currents bear the emergency craft away from the accident site before the rescue craft appear. Detailed on the spot broadcasts of weather conditions, winds and currents would enable modern electronic wizards to compute drift and give the location of the survival craft any given time. Office of Naval Research Scientists, however, believed development of a satisfactory air-searescue device would be simpler than solution of the complex weather problems. New Camera Holder.--The "Sholderpod" has just been introduced by the Monu Inventions Corporation of Englewood, Colorado. The new camera holder, designed to replace the tri-pod, is a precision built, adjustable camera platform made of light weight aluminum. This new camera accesory derives its name from the fact that the
425
shoulder of the photographer is used to steady the camera. A curved aluminum piece, shaped like a half "U," fits snugly over the shoulder. The adjustable extension has a pistol grip fitting at the other end which gives maximum flexibility and steady shooting. Quickly taken apart, the "Sholderpod" can be stowed in most any camera case or gadget bag. While new on the market, those who have used it have been quick to point out the many advantages of the "Sholderpod." It has improved the quality of many home movies, especially where "panning" is involved, by eliminating the excessive motion generally found in such efforts. Very handy for use with heavier type press cameras as the weight of the camera is on the shoulder. Used by many professionals when shooting at slower shutter speeds.
New Method of Bonding Fibreglass.JThe Bureau of Ordnance has announced the development of a new structural material for bonding fbreglass, which will produce laminates and tubular products of superior strength. Instead of the conventional method of bonding fibreglass with resins and organic materials, the new methods combine metals and inorganic substances, or combinations of both. Fibreglass filaments are formed in the usual way by the use of appropriate refractory furnaces and bushings. As the filaments emerge from the furnace at high speeds, they are individually coated with metallic and other inorganic substances. Metal coatings, such as iron, nickel, molybdenum, aluminum, zinc, lead, tin, and copper, have been applied. The coated fibres are then bonded and compacted to form tubular products and laminates in a subsequent stage of the process which involves the application of suitable conditions of heat and pressure with or without the