The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-01-07
PIGEONS NOW USED
AS SPH0TOGRAPH
Picture Takers of the Air Get
Wonderful Results During
Rapid Flight.
CAMERA FASTENED ON BREAST.
Birds May BE Used in German War
Mano by Doctor for
lost Little Messenger Brought
About Invention.

Paris, France Pigeon photo
graphers, who through the invention
of Jules Neubronner are now recog-
nized professionals of the skies, are
hailed in Paris as the natural reflex
action OF the present furore for aerial
navigation. Birds. says the French
man. have become photographers at
the moment when men are trans
forming themselves into birds.
The extraordinary function per-
formed by the carrier pigeons when
In rapid flight they take, by means
OF an apparatus strapped to the
breast, a series of pictures so quick
! ly as to be almost in unbroken con-
tinuity and of such sharp outlines as
to lend themselves to veritably mar
vellous enlargement is something
hitherto undreamed.
The origin of the idea is peculiar
and carries one back to 1870 when
a certain Mr.. Neubronner, chemist
of Cronberg, conceived the ingenious
idea of sending pigeons to all the
physicians in neighboring villages so
NluJ W men d DltStllDlOu w do Httutu
in a hurry the pigeon might be dis
patched at once and the medicine
ready and waiting when called for.
This saved time and often life.
Others took up the overhead ex-
press." In France and America 1t
was practised. In 1S4S when the viii
lagos near Cronberg were equipped
with their own chemists this was no
! longer necessary, but some years ago
DR.. Jules Neubronner, the son of
the former, revived this method OF
communication between his oiilce and
a sanitarium at Falkenstein but the
use he made of his serial post was to
have rare medicaments, ordered by
telephone. borne to him by the faith
full little messengers.
| A trusted pigeon whose goings and
comings could be reckoned on with
clocklike regularly disappeared once
a whole month. 1t was in trying to
find out what had become of the ex-
press bird that led Mr.. Neubronner
to think Of photography.
He gathered a number of pigeons
! into big room and took pictures Of
them in fight Of twenty metres to
the second. After preliminary trials
during the course Of Journey by
express train he made his first ex-
! periments with pigeons as photo
! graphers and got proofs centimetre
square that were relatively satisfac
tory.
After this he proceeded to perfect
! :. g PROCESS. using special apparatus
const. ucted under his direction with
/ view to securing the clearest i'm
preston in the smallest possible
space.
This was fastened to the breast of
tho pigeon by sort OF elastic har-
ness passed across the back. A small
rubber bulb working automatically
! at regular intervals controlled the
lens instantaneously. BY this means
views were taken, but enlarging the
tiny camera will permit the register
ing of pictures every half minute in
fight of ten miles.
Suggested by mishap to one of
winged messengers of his pharmaceu-
tical post, DR.. Neubronners original
idea has become enlarged to the
point where the German Minister Of
War has interested himself in a pro-
cess which he believes will be valua-
BILE in the study of topography.
The inventor has been invited to
give demonstrations before the bat
talon of aerostatics of Reinicken-
I dork, and Major Gross, as proof,
has asked him to make photographs
of the waterworks at Tegel.
Recently at lecture given at
Cronberg DR.. Neubronner showed a
pigeon fully caparisoned. and en-
largements of the photographs were
thrown upon a screen. The pigeon
in his strange cuirass looked the
veritable warrior and seemed to feel
the dignity of his office,
The use of the carrier pigeon as a
messenger, brought about by the
curious faculty which permits them
to find their way back to their nests,
! no matter from how great a distance,
is of ancient date.
Two historic examples of their
worth may be recalled
In 1915, thanks to these mes
sengers, Rothschild was informed Of
the results of the Battle of Waterloo
three days before the English Gov
ernment and was able to make his
famous coup at the Bourse.
In 1870, during the siege of Paris,
the service of the pigeons in trans
mitting messages overhead beyond
the enemys lines is well known.