INVENTION MARVELS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1921, Page 1

INVENTION MARVELS

NIGHT SIGHT PENETIUTOIt.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2

A youthful inventor, Samuel O. Hoffman, of San Francisco, claims to have found the “sixth sense,” and has given to civilisation an ability heretofore possessed only by certain wild animals, and familiarly known as “uigbt sight.” At a distance of 600 feet, in total darkness, Hoffman, with the aid of a delicate instrument for the detection of heat waves, can tell whether one, two or several persons are present, when one removes liis overcoat, raises bis arm, or makes any movement. Without being seen himself he can observe the moments of any living object and can differentiate between various animals. He can detect the presence of animate objects at a range of 1600 feet.

Police from all parts of the United States have written Hoffman requesting the use of his invention for “third degree’ work, whereby the man in blue can observe the movements of suspects in a darkened cell. Government officials expect to use it for guarding valuable goods, such as large coal piles, warehouses and automobile fleets not in use. Instead of a large number of guards, who can be evaded, it is expected to set up one or two of Hoffman’s instruments, which will immediately show the presence of people in the vicinity.

For housewives, Hoffman says bis invention will be useful in watehing for hubby when ho comes in late at night. It will also he available as a burglar alarm. But aside from this, Hoffman’s invention, which was started during the war for detecting enemy forces in front of the American trenches, is a- combination of bhemopiles, a reflector and a galvanometer. The instrument which acts much as a sound detector, is sensitive to heat waves and can be developed to ilie point where a complete silhouette of tin object can be given, showing th« outlines from which beat waves emanate. it can also be used for the detection of aeroplanes thousands of leet in (he air, and can he nuiiiuiactured at ;i cost approximating that of the ordinary dictaphone. CAN PIERCE TANKS.

While American chemical professors have been describing to a mystified public-certain noxious gases which have just been discovered by research students in America, possibly for use in f„t„ ro wars, another development has been chronicled calculated for utilisation in wartime emergencies. This is n .->() calibre machine gun capable of '(icing a bullet which, at 200 yards, will pemurnte the one-inch nrnnior plate of battle tanks. Major Lee O. Wright, of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department, announced this at the annual convention in Rock Island, Illinois, of the ordnance section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers at tlie Rock Islam Arsenal.

lie remarked that the new weapon is an outgrowth of the war, when fighting tanks were armoured to resist the 30 calibre bullet of the rifles and machine guns then in use. The gun is modelled along the hues of the Browning machine gun a weighs 06 pounds, It has a muzzle velocity of 2500 feet a second, an average range of from six to seven thousand yards a’nd an extreme range of from nine to ten thousand yards. WIRELESS ’PHONES ABROAD.

Wireless telephones will soon he operating on all great trans-Atlantic lim ms. Tests made during the last voyage of the Mauretania by William D"biiicr, the American wirelesss wizard and developer of the first wireless telephone at Seattle ten years ago. have he declared, proved completely that the installation and operation of these phones is highly practical, and can he accomplished at any time. “Science has eliminated the last refuge of the fired business man,” he asserted. “Within a maximum of two years, all main staterooms of big ships will be equipped with regular desk telephones. The passengers will simply lift the receiver and request connexion with his office telephone in London or Xew York and he will get the connexion on land and lie will not realise the difference. My tests have proved that if is a matter now only of equipment.”

Mr Dubilier is now in England conferring with Major-General Sir Frederick Sykes, director of civil aviation, in regard to supplying British aeroplanes with telephones equipment which is now being used in America and which tic says is now thoroughly practical.

“T feel it my duty to give the British the benefit of any inventions 1 develop.” be said, “because in the early stages of the work, when I could not get fimVnrtial support at home, the British gave me that support T so badly needed and every kind of 'menu re

merit. They really made possible the work I accomplished in America during the war.”