RECORDING TIME

Grey River Argus, 3 February 1917, Page 2

RECORDING TIME

A WONDERFUL MACHINE The official who is responsible for the timing of most of the big auto--1 mobile speed events in America has ! written an interesting account of the methods employed for the purpose. I The instrument used is electrically 1 operated by a wire that stretches across the track at the starting and (finishing point. As each car passes , over this wire its performance is Lecorded. These timing device*, of which there are only two in America, cost over £1000 each. The StewartWarner Electric Horograph, as this timing- apparatus is called, consists of !a wire stretched across the track and fastened at one end to an electric breakmaker; next, a time registeringdevice run by a motor and storage bat- , terv, al?o, a Bliss chronometer, this part of the outfit alone, costing £150. The operation of the device' is as follows : As a car passes over this wire which is elevated about an inch above the track, it depresses it. This action makes a "break" in the crectncal current, and this break causes the timing- device to operate. This timinsr device may be compared to a typewriter, with the exception that on a typewriter the key strikes against the paper ribbon resting against the padwhile on this machine tue operation is iust reversed. A lonsr strip of paper is run through the machine and passes under a markinc ribbon. Raised above this is an arm or stnKinjr pad. The car passing 1 over the wire breaks the electric connection. This "break" causes the marking pad to strike the strip of paper resting over the raised numerals on the edges of the discs. Thus is imprinted on the paper the precise "time." as shown by the exact position which the discs may be at that instant. The machine then automatically shifts the paper along- ready tr> «»«".<» the next impression, which will be caused by the next car passinjr over the wire. As the first car makes the circuit of the track it automatically • records the precise time that the lap is made in.