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.
[Illustration: FIG. 163.]
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: FIG. 168.]
[Illustration: 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.
[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.]
=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.
[Illustration: FIG. 175.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 176, 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.
[Illustration: FIGS. 178, 179, 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.
[Illustration: 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.