THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHER

Dunstan Times, Issue 2486, 21 June 1909, Page 2

THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHER

The pigeon, it appears,, is the first bird to become a photographer. So, at least, we are'told by a German druggist, who claims to have invented a camera of light weight which can be carried by a pigeon and by which exposures are made automatically by a unique form of rubber bulb. So successful has this cameiu proved that it is said to have a value foi military purposes. Among the photographs taken by a pigeon have been views of portions of the park of the imperial palace at Friedrichshof not open to the public. This demonstrated the value of the bird photographer for obtaining military data. The inventor of the pigeon camera first became interested in carrier pigeons through his father’s experiments with them. His father was also a druggist As early as 4.840 he made use of pigeons to deliver medicines, which were carefully attached to the neck of the bird. This method of distribution was of great value in cases in which the medicine was needed urgently. Before ..attaching a camera to the pigeon the inventor made a number of. preliminary experiments in taking pictures from express trains while travelling at high speed, in order to determine the speed of shutter required for taking pictures while the camera was in swift motion, lie then attached hi£ invention to a bird. The results were surprisingly satisfactory, it issaid, although the pictures were very diminutive. , A new camera by means of which larger pictures could he taken was made. The camera was fitted to the breast of the pigeon by means of elastic braces passed across the back underneath the wings. Fight consecutive snapshots were made at regular intervals by the automatic exposing device. As it has been established that the pigeon is able to carry a burden of more than two and one-half ounces for a distance of 100 miles, the inventor intends to enlarge the capacity of his camera from eight to thirty films- Pictures can be taken while the bird is travelling at as high a rate of speed as twenty-two yards a second. *

Paris has now a society whose business it is to appoint ladies to meet the trains from the provinces, and shield the newly arrived country girl from the many nn-, desirables who' are ever on. the wait for her. These fairy godmothers assist girls who find themselves alone in Paris, help those who are passing through to look MV the best trains, and pilot them from efetv*. to station.