Silver State in Winnemucca, Nevada

Delicate Timing Instrument Used by War Department

The War Department possesses a highly delicate timing instrument using a tuning fork to measure durations. Vibrations are photographed by projecting light through a fork prong onto film wound on a rapidly rotating cylinder, speeds 6000 to 10000 rpm, creating long bands for division under a microscope. This allows measurements to the tenth of a millionth of a second and aids velocity, metal expansion, and other scientific calculations.