“A QUI VIVE” CHAIR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1190, 21 December 1894, Page 26

“A QUI VIVE” CHAIR.

“Rapier” of the Sporting and Dramatic News has tumbled across another novelty for the race track, and if this latest invention comes . into general use, “ punters” will be able to get a square run for the money they invest on a horse race. The inventor of what I may term the “Qui Vive” Chair, is Mr Richard E. Sherman, and his idea is a “ trolly chair ” to run on wires propelled by electricity, and to follow the horses round the course. “Rapier" says :—“A man can sit in this chair and fly through the air at the rate of thirty miles per hour (providing he doe 3 not slip his trolly, in which event he would be likely to come to grief). Many plans have been devised to enable judges to be constantly near the horses upon a race-track, but as yet none has met with any particular degree of success, owing to the high speed that must be attained to enable the moving car to run with absolute safety at the rate of a mile in two minutes around a continual curve. The trolly chair has separate wires for support and for carrying the electric current to energize the motor. The intention is to suspend the car upon wire three-fourths of an inch in diameter, No. 16 copper wire being used to carry the current at 110 volts, the supporting wire being suspended from wooden p“t>les at the side of the track. The car is made of wood, and is of sufficient size to accommodate two persons. The motor is placed under the seat, and is controlled by a breaking device operated by the feet. The armature carries upon its shaft a wheel belted to another wheel mounted upon the shaft, which also carries the wheel, by which the car is suspended. Swaying of the car while travelling at a high rate of speed is lessened to a great extent by the trolly arm, which is provided with a stiff spring. The Hawthorne race track, near Chicago, is now being equipped with this chair, and it is intended soon to give the system a practical test. The car will run somewhat behind the horses, and the suspended judges, it is claimed, will be easily able to detect improper practices.” Imagine a trio of our stewards taking their seats in the trolly car, being whizzed down to the start, waiting for the fall of the flag, and then flying back to the winning post high over the heads of the rushing field !

Mr Gollan’s dun gelding Kimberley, and Lascar will arrive in Wellington by the s.s. Mararoa on Saturday. They will be accompanied by a grey gelding named The Lamb. Late sport mg and tips will be found on page 20,