Please Ident this contraption!

dx398 · #1 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 01:58 AM

Hello Everyone,

Can anyone provide any information at all on this listening device, It would
be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

TA152 · #2 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 07:30 AM

Looks like a torture device ! I have no idea. Do you happen to know what country it is from ?

Martin Bull · #3 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 07:41 AM

Before the advent of radar, in the inter-war years there was fairly widespread experimentation with 'listening devices' to give early warning of bombers. I'd say that this is almost certainly one of them, but I'm not sure which Country.....

Za Rodinu · #4 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 08:04 AM

Must have had some intensive wear, like listening to the entire 8th Air Force all at the same time

This one apparently is Czech... Acoustic Radar.

How Were World War II Searchlights Used?

Quote:

WW II searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking (a) locator devices, (b) searchlights, and (c) antiaircraft (AAA) guns. The locators sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target in synch with each other. Once a locator of any of the aforementioned types had "locked on" to an aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target (via the height and distance data received from the locator) so the target could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. Locators were first based on sound and heat detection, and ultimately radar became the preferred method of target acquisition.
...
Before radar, the first practical means of detecting airplanes at a distance at night was by listening to the noise of their engines with the aid of horns. The size of the horns served to gather in more of the sound and thus increased the range of detection. The spacing of the horns aided the operator's binaural sense in determining the plane's direction. The photo at left shows one of the last types of sound locator units used during World War II. One operator listened to the left and right horn for direction information, and the other operator listened to the top and bottom horns for elevation information. As the operators pointed this large hearing device, their direction and elevation movement would generate electric signals that would be sent to the searchlight control station or to the searchlight directly, using a selsyn system.

TA152 · #5 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 08:51 AM

That's a great site Za ! They look like works of art. I really like the Japanese sound device.

Martin, do you know if the ones in Kent are still there ?

skunk works · #6 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 10:54 AM

Civilians got in on the act to, as did the medical profession. This one is called a hand made stethoscope.

and you thought you had big ears?

Za Rodinu · #7 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 11:51 AM

Holy smoke, SW

What I found interesting in the articlaes above was that sound location was indeed used as precursors to searchlights, before radar became developed and inexpensive enough.

bigfun · #8 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 02:48 PM

Wow, that is some weird looking stuff! That technology has sure come a long way!!

Joe · #9 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 02:53 PM

Thats made my day, seeing that thing!

I can imagine that that guy is trying hard to keep a straight face, especially with all the other people giggling at him.

ValkyrieKatrina · #10 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Bull

Before the advent of radar, in the inter-war years there was fairly widespread experimentation with 'listening devices' to give early warning of bombers. I'd say that this is almost certainly one of them, but I'm not sure which Country.....

aaah! ya beat me to it! I loved the japanese versions of this that looked like huge tubas! hilarious!

Skipper · #11 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 05:37 PM

Excellent. Considering one arm is oriented towards the ground does that mean they suspected an underground attack ?

scarface · #12 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dx398

Far too garish and overstated for daily wear.... IMHO....a formal occasion, possibly.... a reception, a wedding or Mardi Gras.... certainly....

...but for daily 'Grab something out of the closet and go to the supermarket', I MUCH prefer something more along the lines of Skunk Works' stylish, understated yet distinctly original head gear....

... I'm just absolutely green with envy!

-whatever

-Lou

Slipdigit · #13 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 07:05 PM

So is yours for the more scientific occasions?

scarface · #14 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slipdigit

So is yours for the more scientific occasions?

Well, mine is so.... so..... 'last week'.....

..... I'm almost embarrassed to be seen in public!

-whatever

-Lou

grim · #15 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 09:33 PM

The kent sound detectors are still there, at the side of a gravel quarry/lake..... I think they may have even been given listed building status...........

Mibo · #16 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2008, 04:20 AM

I saw some of these in a Finnish anti-air-museum, it was the first time i ever heard of these.

How could anybody hear a bomber coming with those, there must be so much distraction like animals, wind, friends shouting into the big horns, etc.

But they must´ve worked, if they were so widespread.

Za Rodinu · #17 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2008, 06:57 AM

They're directional, they amplify sound from a narrow cone, so unless your sparrow is chirping inside that listening envelope you won't hear it.

Tweet, tweet.

scarface · #18 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2008, 02:41 PM

(... as Za sneaks up with a hand-held airhorn...)

I was reading through those two fascinating links that Za posted and was interested to read that acoustic locaters were deployed well into World War II in order to deceive the Germans and hide the fact that the Allies were, in fact, using radar.

(... 1940's rope-a-dope..... float like a butterfly.... sting like a bee!...)

.... no wonder we won......

-whatever

-Lou

bigfun · #19 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2008, 09:13 PM

^^^^^

Slipdigit · #20 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2008, 09:29 PM

You ain't no where near right. Down here, we'd say you wuz "tetched."

tetched - definition of tetched by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

Za Rodinu · #21 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2008, 10:27 PM

And I was trying to be serious!