New Automatic Starter Invented In Invercargill

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22826, 22 December 1948, Page 8

New Automatic Starter Invented In Invercargill

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Dec 22. A new automatic starter for the better and safer dispatch of horses has been invented by an Invercargill electrical firm and a patent has been applied for. The device was demonstrated on the Invercargill racecourse yesterday before several members of the executive of the Southland Racing Club, trainers and jockeys. Worked from a 12-volt battery, the new starter eliminates the danger of jockey and horses becoming caught in tapes and receiving abrasions. Instead of springing almost upright, the new tapes move forward and upwards on each side of the starter. Two teeth in front are fitted to a post and connected by a wire to a single battery. A set of three tapes is fitted into the teeth and moves upwards on the wire to another post about -12 ft. away. The teeth arc released by a magnet in the clamp. An added pull is given by a strong rubber connection, which can spring 801 b. with little difficulty. The clamp is easily detachable and is taken with the battery to each new starting position around the course, where there are already wires fitted.

It' the scheme is adopted, the electrical wires, which at present run overhead, will be put underground.

The official starter at the Invercargill racecourse, Mr. T Marshall, has operated the new device several times and thinks the idea is good. He intends to give it an official trial from the mile start at the Southland Racing Club's meeting on January 3.