Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-19
PHOTOS FROM A KITE.
An Ingenious Device Which May BE
Useful in War.

An Ingenious Device Which May Be
Useful in War.
From the New York Herald.
At five minutes of pm. May 80, 1885,
probably the first photograph In the United
States was taken by means of camera
held in the air by the upward pull exerted
by tandem line of taiiless kites. near No.
30 East Sd street, Bayonne N. j. The
camera. with its surrounding framework.
supported by two cross sticks horizontal
to the earth, was fastened to the main line
with guy strings. The shutter Of the cam
era was shifted by the sharp pull of
string attached to a pressure mechanism
working the shutter from a point fastened
to the inclosing framework In which the
camera rested, and from which 1t could
be removed and used in the ordinary
way. The camera, with its supporting
framework. weighs about two pounds. and
this weight calls for pull exerted by the
kite string of not much less than fifteen
pounds. BY the time the required lifting
force was exerted two additional kites were
helping with their individual tandem lines,
making five, three of which were six feet
and two four feet in diameter. Then came
a persistent and prolonged struggle with
difficulties. The camera had been tested
at the earth, and the pull Of the special
shutter releasing string, to be extended
perpendicularly>up from the ground, SEEM
ed to move the shutter all right, but when
the vibrating rising and falling kite string
exerted it's motion the camera would snap
off too soon. owing to some sudden catch
ing of the string. l had taken many pre-
cautions to see that the shutter would open
and shut, with the result that it worked
too readily.
Went ON Too Quick.
The camera snapped a number of times
before 1t had been lifted very high. The
camera and its apparatus had to be hauled
down to the earth every time picture was
taken and the shutter mechanism prepared
for the next picture. 1t was clearly shown
in the high level pictures that the camera
had taken too much sky. The back Of the
camera was toward the sun. but 1t Is prob
able that the pull Of the shutter cord forced
the camera out of position. The diffused
light above and below does not necessarily
fog the film, as shown by later pictures,
taken June 9. 1885, in which grass trees
and houses are taken from q high point
in the air.
Unfortunately these pictures were spoiled
by my error in developing them, but
enough is visible TO show that good pictures
can be readily taken.
1t seems to me that the kite string cam
era will be useful, when improved, to map
the position OF an enemy in time of war,
when strong winds would blow captive
balloon down sideways and endanger the
photographer. By means of the kite string
1t Is now possible to look from a great
height without danger TO LIE ana without
the expense Of a balloon ascension. 1t is
a characteristic of all first experiments
that many improvements are to be made
many difficulties to be overcome. and the
experiments will continue with every pres
emit indication that successful pictures will
be taken during the present summer. If
we can practically place the human eye at
the height Of the Eiffel tower it will seem
to foreshadow the advent Of aerial naviga-
ton when men will travel aloft where Prof.
a. langley has alreadv sent auto
matte motor machine without human guild
ance