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SCIENCE IN PLAYFUL MOODFIRST ELECTRICAL FLEA CIRCUSSHOWN TO AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS.Science in a playful mood turned its re sea re li knowledge to entertainment wlie 11 L. W. Oiuuu, director of research of the Westingliouae Electric Company, astounded and amused members of tn« New York section of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers at their meeting in the main auditorium of the Engineering Societies Building by presenting foj the first time the first “olec-Organised Selling ServiceCONSIGN I MILLET, MAIZE, POTATOESTOtrical flea” circus.The aetors who went through their performance at the command of Dr. Phillips Thomas, research engineer of the Westinghouse Company, who assisted Mr. Chubb, differed greatly from the little insects performing in sideshows. The fleas of Chhbbs* presentation were electrons—the smallest known thing in the world. Compared with the electron a flea would appear as large as a planet yet the tiny electron performed feats for assembled executives, engineers and newspapermen that would seem prodigious, not only to tho flea, but to man.In opening the electron circus, Mr. Chubb explained to his audience that the atom, which had been the mightiest and smallest substance known until recently, has been subdivided to a more minute and universally potent substance.11 The electron, therefore,” he explained, “is really the flea on the back of tho atom. Naturally, you can imagine it* tininess if not being able to see it with the eye. You will see many examp’es of electricity's power to do remarkable things, and they may seem as different in operation as day and night, but all trace their operation back to the infinitesimal and unseen performer of to-night’s exhibition. ’ ’It was evident that Mr. Electron was conspicuous by his absence for all activities were performed by the most recent developments of electrical phenomena—a mechanical man, light sensitive tubes, generators, and other apparatus. But it soon became evident the electron was handling these remarkable inventions like dangling marionettes.The electron circus lacked sawdust, calliope and the blfe top. Instead Chubb began to perform wonders with a maze of electrical appliances that made the room resemble an electrical laboratory.The exhibition includedi Raslus Robot, the closest development to human perfection in mechanical men? a miniature lightning producer; and the stroboglow,The PRODUCERS’ C0-0PE1 SOCIETYVALENTINE AND QUAYPIG AND CALF SALES CO BEST RESULTS AND PROM HOMEBUSH BA LIST OF P.D.S. BAG AGENTS IN C B. APPS, AJumny Creek, Grafton; J. W. EV Southgate; ALBERT O. WATSON, Sport Ulmarra; W. J. BENSONu Tyndale, via J grove; L. CAVE, Tucabia, Upper Coldsti FARRANT, Woodford Dale; C. W. BULTThe Best Flt;P.B.MAIt supplies ammonia for a q make stout, heavy stalks ana add to fill out the grain, ri barren stalks and bring theiOur free book, -FARMING more information. Send foi.PATON BUS52 KING STREET ••feet away Chubb pressed a switch and 250,000 volts in the form of lightning leaped from a small generator and zigzagged across the insulators on a miniature power transmission tower. The bolt lantern in the form of a blotch abr it the automatically reproduced itself on a size of a quarter. The entire action took but five millionths of a second.A long cylinder was then hooked on the power line and again the lightning ntnmg prouucer; u«u shot to the wires' only to be consumedsynchronised light which enables the and grounded harmlessly by the cylinderJ , ■ .. • r — t!ra|.ln;nn n.rallnr 'This lanfprn 611 ft P.BVUCUluuurcu v ---—— ---- _ - ** • . , ,.iuman eye to read lettering on apparatus —a lightning arrester. 1 he lantern slideotating at more than 1500 revolutions showed only a tiny spot from the seconder minute.Chubb climaxed his demonstration with vo amusing acts in which he and Rastua obot, the mechanical man, were the per-jrmers. First, Chubb gave a modern rmonstration how William Tell shot an pple off his son’s head with a bow and rrow. The genial Rastus stood calmly hilo the apple was placed. Then Chubb iok up a dangerous looking bow and illed the string. Instead of_an arrow hizzing from the bow there was just a ash of light and the apple was knockedflash. The plate was then reproducedon a movie screen for comparison. Thisperformance. Chubb explained, was toshow how electrical engineering had perfected an instrument which could render lightning powerless and thus prevent total paralysis of public utility power during a storm.. The tiny “electric eye” was then put through its paces qb a bloodhound iu Bcarch of fire. Au apparatus resembling a searchlight with a fire extinguisher attached beneath the light sensitive tubesh or ugni ana me appie wan huucruu mcncu ucumui *»*lt;? • - -——anly from Rastus’ head. The dummy) began scanning back and forth across adown suddenly and uttered a very iman and startled cry.The secret of this demonstration lay a photocell flashlight hidden in the row and a light-sensitive tube, so sensi-/© that it reacted from the flash and t electrical apparatus into operation lieh exploded the apple.Then Rastus showed how he had istered conversation and human action, mbb took up a photocell flashlight with voral push-buttons. He asked several estions at random of the dummy on rrent events and about those present. r pressing a button in the photocell ;ht. Rastus affablv answered his ques-»ns in a rich baritone voice. T he in-rlocutor pressed a combination of but-ns and Rastus not only talked, but. arose »rtlv from his chair and then sat down.• proved n mnlt;*h nore talented and ndsome follow than bis predecessors in ' mechanical race of men.The demonstration opened ?*ith a re* rkable d?«nlay of on«incerin2’s con-1 over fho devastating po^rr oflarge screen. Automatically it scanned every inch of the surface. Chubb began to light tiny fires on the screen and as the “electrie eye” spotted them it stopped for a second and turned uu the fire extinguisher. The fire out, the apparatus resumed its methodi-al search for more fires.The stroboglow light completed the demonstration. Two svnchronatcd globes were turned on the blur of ?«n electric fan revolving 1800 revolutions per minute. The whirring blades seemed to be brought to a standstill under the flickering light and the watchers cleaTly saw each blade as if they were standing still.Throughout this remarkable exhibition the tinv electron had not been seen hv the audience and possiblv was forgotten in the wizardry of electricity’s latest in-vontions. However, in closing. Mr. Chubb apain reminded his cuests that the tinv elcefrnti had been responsible for all this scientific phenomena and thus rsng down the enrtain on the oddest “flea*hiing. While the audience sat a few’ circus” in the records of showmanship.hisgroporIforincoupredwijedstatcrejshodocbegfliel
Newspaper Details
Grafton Daily Examiner
Grafton, New South Wales, AU
Wed, Jan 07, 1931
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Cornell U.
NY, USA 12 Feb 2023
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