Kitecraft : $b and kite tournaments — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Kitecraft : $b and kite tournaments
John Stuart Mill · en
=Wireless Telegraphy.= The wireless has a great attraction for most
boys. Some attach antennae to the kite, others drop a number of wires
from the kite line, as in Fig. 169. A stick is suspended similar to
a banner, except that it requires only two suspension cords; another
stick hangs by the wires about ten feet below, and below this the
wires come together and a wire follows the kite line to the receiver
and to the ground. Caution is here given against the use of a wire
kite line. One boy tried this and when the kite lowered in a lull of
the breeze the wire crossed the trolley line and in the mix-up the boy
became entangled in the line by attempting to get his kite up again,
and received quite a shock; but there was no serious results. His
instrument and attachments were working splendidly. The winding of the
coil is a very good problem for any boy.
[Illustration: FIG. 170.]
=Photography.= Some boys are interested in photography, and the kite
gives opportunity for taking bird’s-eye views. The kodak must rest
on a framework and the tripping line be so attached as not to cause
the instrument to swing when the shutter is snapped. The tripping can
be accommodated by means of the rear suspension cord, Fig. 170. The
shutter should trip very easily so as to cause as little swinging as
possible. An extension of the lever might be an advantage. The two
sticks of the framework should be halved together so as to bring the
upper surfaces level. A screw-eye placed in the cross-stick directly
below the tripping lever holds the tripping string so that it draws on
the camera in line with its own seating on the framework, and causes
the minimum amount of swaying. Figs. 171 and 172 were taken on a kite
line that was sent up from the Y. M. C. A. building. The speck of white
shown on the roof near the ventilator is the operator. Figs. 173 and
174 were taken by a twelve year old boy and while not as high as the
first is a very good start.
[Illustration: FIG. 171.]
[Illustration: FIG. 172.]
[Illustration: FIG. 173.]
[Illustration: FIG. 174.]