Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-28
bigNaziCan1era
To Take Views
Of Inaugural
Long-Ronge Device
Used to Photograph
England in War

England IN war
A long-range camera used by the
Germans to photograph the Eng.
lish coast from France during
World War II will be mounted on
the roof of the Lbary Of Congress
January 20 to take pictures Of
President Humans Inauguration.
An Army Signal Corps spokesman
said today the ceremonies will be
used as Photographic subject mat
ter for a continuation of expert
ments with this and other cap
tured equipment.
In addition to the 100-inch focal
length camera, which once peered
26 miles across the English Channel
at British defenses, Signal Corps
engineers will use wide-angle lens
camera capable of photographing q
l30-degree arc.
Pictures to Be Available.
They refuse to predict results but
promise any satisfactory pictures
obtained will be distributed promptly
to newspapers and magazines. Tests
OF the lenses at the Signal Corps
Engineering Laboratory, Fort Mon
mouth, N. j., have shown them to
be more exacting in light require
ments than conventional news
cameras.
If the experiments on Inaugural
ton Day are successful. the wide
angle pictures probably will be more
interesting than the medium close
up expected from the 100-inch
focal length camera, according to the
experts. They point out the latter
virtually will be duplicated by news
photographers long-range shots
made from closer positions.
From the rooftop vantage point,
however, the 130-degree lens may
catch panoramic view of the scene
at the Capitol better than those OBJ
tanned with other equipment at pre-.
vious lnaugurations, it is said.
Predictions Avoided.
One reason why the engineers are
avoiding predictions as to picture
quality is that film sensitive to
light of the visible spectrum will
be used instead of a type which
picks up the infra-red spectrum.
The Germans used the infra-rea
film as an aid in cutting through
haze. Because they were photo
terrain and installations,
they were not concerned with un-
natural shading produced by this
film.
In an effort to obtain more nat
ural tones, particularly in the faces
of the principals in the ceremonies,
the Signal Corps will use regular
film. This will slow the speed OF
the cameras, the engineers say, and
haze or fog would reduce further
chances Of good pictures.
The cameras were not designed to
photograph animate objects, but
their product should be satisfactory
if conditions are ideal, it is said
210-Degree Lens Used.
The 13O-degree lens is not the
idest-angled equipment captured
from the Germans. The Signal
Corps also has a 210-degree lens
which was used in the past year to
make spectacular views of the New
York skyline.
More than 10000 seats for the
inaugural parade have been sold,
Chairman John F. Morrissey of the
Ticket Committee said yesterday.
Receipts to date total more than
$98 5000, he said.
Mr.. Morrissey emphasized, how
ever, that $4,000 seats still are avail
able, a large proportion of them in
the $3.50, So and 81 price brackets
Erection of the first of the port
able grandstands has begun at Sec
ond street and Constitution avenue
NV.
General Chairman Melvin D. Hill
dreth announced that George L.
Killion of San Francisco, president
OF the American President Lines,
had accepted appointment as chair
man Of the Steamship Committee
in the National Information and
Transportation Committee, headed
by Stephen H. Harrington.
Medals Cost So.
Mr.. Killion, former treasurer of
the Democratic National Committee,
will be in charge of arrangements
for steamship transportation Of in
auglral visitors from foreign coun-
tries.
H. L. Kemp. in charge of sales
of the inaugural medal, said many
orders for the medal had to be re-
turned because an incorrect amount
was inclosed. The medals cost So
each. plus IS cents postage. he
pointed out, and orders should oe
sent to Room 113, Tariff Commits
sion Building, Seventh and e streets
NV, Washington Is, D. c.
Many orders have been received
at the Treasury Department and at
the minis, Mr.. Kemp said.