SUSPENDED FIGURES AND APPLIANCES.
These devices are usually suspended from the kite line. It is necessary to have enough suspension cords attached to prevent twisting up with the main line. Most of the devices will float out and have some lifting power of their own, but some will require a kite that can sustain some weight, in some cases a pound or more.
Fig. 163. Fig. 162. [↑]
Flags and Banners. One of the prettiest attachments is the American flag. This can be attached in two ways: first by means of a vertical stick of some weight, [Fig. 162], and second by using the horizontal stick, as in [Fig. 163]. A pleasing trick is to have the flag folded (do not wind on the stick) and covered, tied loosely with bow-knots that are easily untied, and when the flag is well up, the tripping string is pulled and the flag released. The string of the bow-knot passes down the kite line thru little loops of wire attached to the main line to prevent the tripping string from getting twisted therein. If two are operating, one can stand at a little distance so as not to get the two strings twisted, and thus avoid the wire loops.
Figs. 164, 165, 166, 167. [↑]
Banners are used sometimes for schools, sometimes for advertising and sometimes for just no particular purpose but the pleasure of doing it. A few banners are shown: [Fig. 164] represents the Grand Avenue School, [Fig. 165] the Hobart Boulevard School, [Fig. 166], Vermont Avenue, and [Fig. 167], the Tenth Street School. [Fig. 168] shows how the banners are attached.
Fig. 168. [↑]
Fig. 169. [↑]
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.
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.
Fig. 171. Fig. 172
[↑]
Fig. 173. Fig. 174
[↑]
Signaling. Signaling can be done by means of a red and white flag, and the code used by the wig wag system, or one similar can be used. [Fig. 175] shows the rod on which the two signals are used. Screw-eyes would be better than pulley wheels as there would be no slipping out of the grooves, and there would not be enough friction to be objectionable. The cord operating the two signals should be continuous, passing from the ground to one signal, thru the screw-eye above, then thru the other screw-eye to the second signal and from that back to the ground. The distance from the signal to the screw-eye should be convenient for manipulation by the operator, for while one flag is up the other is down, and this distance corresponds to the pull and relaxation of the hands of the operator. The signals can be red and white flags, or a device like [Fig. 176], in which a full surface of color would always be in view. Sometimes a flag flying directly toward or away from you is not a very large object to see. This last device is made of two good sized cardboard disks, each cut half way thru, [Fig. 177], and set at right angles to each other. The red and white is placed there to help in location of the other signals, as to up and would read, red and light, that is r is red or right, while l is left or light. So the same code operates for both. The center black square down and right and left. The code given is one that we have used somewhat, but not many have mastered it as yet. It can be used for night signalling, as red and white or light, would read r and l too.
Fig. 175. [↑]
Fig. 176. [↑]
Fig. 177. [↑]
We will illustrate with the letter b The code reads L R R L. At night this would be flashed: light, then red, red again, then light. On the kite signal we would run up the light signal, then the red, red again, and then the light. Just so with the wig wag. The wig wag flag would be waved to left then two to the right then one to the left and back again to center. If we were spelling out B O Y, a little pause would be made after B had been signalled, then left, right, or light, red would be signalled, and after a slight pause again, the three reds or three waves of the wig wag flag to the right. A little longer pause between words and then the next word would follow.
| A | LL | J | LLRR | S | LRL | 2 | LLLL |
| B | LRRL | K | LRLR | T | L | 3 | RRRL |
| C | RLR | L | LLR | U | RRL | 4 | LLLR |
| D | LLL | M | RLLR | V | RLLL | 5 | RRLL |
| E | RL | N | RR | W | RRLR | 6 | LLRR |
| F | LLLR | O | LR | X | LRLL | 7 | RLLL |
| G | RRLL | P | RLRL | Y | RRR | 8 | LRRR |
| H | RLL | Q | RLRR | Z | LLLL | 9 | RLLR |
| I | R | R | LRR | 1 | RRRR | 0 | LR |
Swings. A swing can be attached to the kite line by six suspension cords, [Fig. 178]. The boy in overalls is a pleasing figure, [Fig. 179]. The framework is of light kite sticks and the figure is cut out of light cardboard, but must be reinforced with light sticks across the body to prevent collapse. A stick across back of the arms and two down the legs from this will be sufficient. The sunbonnet baby is good, [Fig. 180]. The sunbonnet in white and the dress red with pink slippers is effective.
Figs. 178, 179. [↑]
Figs. 180, 181. [↑]
The trapeze performer, [Fig. 181], must be placed edgewise in the swing, and the lower stick must be made so it will revolve. The grooved pulley is stationary on the lower rod and should have a good sized grove so as to accommodate two or three turns of the operating line, which should run double to the ground. It is well to have such lines fastened to a stick so that the hand may hold in the center between the two, see [Fig. 182]. By a twist of the wrist the ends of the stick can be forced to and fro which turns the rod that the performer is on, forward or back. This will suggest other forms of trapeze performers.
Figs. 182, 183. [↑]
Color devices and optical illusions could also be arranged. A color device like [Fig. 183] would be an interesting study on the ground, and would be very interesting up a little way on the kite line. Each section, as a, is independent of the others, and the sections should alternate as to directions, the first going to the right, the next to the left and so on. It is as easy to make them go in one direction as the other. A vertical wire reaches from top to bottom of the framework and beads should be placed between sections, and to the outside at the top and bottom. The colors of a are red, yellow, and blue, but white could take the place of some color, and black of another section. As the sections are not likely to turn with the same rapidity, there should be a constant change of combination of colors.
Light forms that fill out with the breeze can be made of tissue paper and attached to the kite line. Ugly monsters with large mouths and highly colored bodies with heavy lines on them to outline scales are very striking. It is necessary to have these open at both ends or they will be torn open, also it is best to have a light framework about the head to keep that in shape; the rest of the body will usually be taken care of. Long serpents and fish are good for the purpose. If the grotesque does not appeal to one, long and short streamers can be used in abundance. A kite line decorated with pointed streamers of various colors would be very beautiful. Japanese lanterns might be festooned along the line, and to reduce the weight, the bottom could be removed. If kite flying is indulged in at night, fewer lanterns can be used, and these lighted.