Manuscript/Mixed Material Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, 1903 to August 26, 1904
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Image 1 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 2 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 3 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ... 11 1903, May 6, Wednesday At Conn Ave. AREA OF TRIANGLES. Area of 100 cm. triangle = 4330.000 Area of “ “ 50 cm. triangles “ = 1082.500 Area of “ “ 25 cm. triangles “ = 270.625 WEIGHTS OF WINGED TETRAHEDRAL CELLS. Grammes per Square metre. 25 cm. Cell. 50 cm. 50 cm. Cell. 100 cm. Cell. 100 5.4125 21.65 86.60 200 10.8250...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 4 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 5 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 6 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 7 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 8 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 9 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2, ...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 10 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 11 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 12 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 13 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 14 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 15 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 16 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 17 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 18 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 19 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 1 1903, June 27, Saturday At. B. B. Lab. I made my first appearance at Beinn Bhreagh Laboratory this season on Monday, June 15, 1903, my Secretary, Mr. Mitchell, arrived next day, but we have been unable to begin laboratory notes until today and we can only make a beginning today as time is short. The present staff consists of myself with Mr. Mitchell...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 20 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 2 Mr. Mitchell, acting as Secretary of the laboratory is to be on hand at the laboratory at 4:00 o'clock. He will then take the paper photographs and mark upon them, the date of receipt and paste one set in the laboratory photograph album, to be kept at the laboratory annex, and keep the other set as separates in his office. Mr. Mitchell is...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 21 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 3 1903, June 29, Monday At. B. B. Lab. The whole laboratory has been at work since I returned, on making tetrahedral frames. Mr. McNeil has been making frames of spruce, as light as possible, — lighter than our original red silk kite. The frames he has completed for four-celled kites (25 cm. cells) weigh 34 grams each. Mr. McNeil has made a great...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 22 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 4 our unit for larger construction — is, to make four 25 cm. triangles and then connect them together at the corners, thus forming a frame of octahedral shape, This octahedral frame fits nicely into the interior of a 50 cm. tetrahedral frame completing the framework for a four-celled kite, Mr. Ferguson has been at work making tetrahedral frames of heavier construction (50 cm....
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 23 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 5 1903, July 15, Wednesday At. B. B. Lab. We have been unable as yet to settle down to regular notation of laboratory work, so that the only records we have are contained in the laboratory scribbling book, and the photographic record kept by George McCurdy — now amounting to 40 pages of photographs. Pansy Lodge has been removed to the laboratory and has...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 24 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 6 Four kites similar to the above were fastened together to form a 64-celled kite, which is shown in photograph No. 57, taken July 6. Photograph No. 58, also taken July 6, shows the 64-celled tetrahedral kite flying from bamboo fishing rod, weight 744 gms, surface 3.4640 sq. meters, ratio 215 gms. per sq. meter. Copies of these photographs, (No. 57 and No. 58)...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 25 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 7 1903, July 20, Monday At. B. B. Lab. Mr. Ferguson left this morning for a three days fishing trip with Mr. McInnis and Mr. Davidson, and owing to the inclemency of the weather Dr. Bell did not try any experiments in the field. His father, Mr. Melville Bell came down to the Secretary's office and spent part of the afternoon with Dr. Bell,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 26 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 8 1903, July 21, Tuesday At. B. B. Lab. Mr. Ferguson being away on his fishing trip, and the inclemency of the weather preventing field experiments, Dr. Bell has been givin g his attention to matters other than those pertaining to kites. As a matter of daily record, Mr. Mitchell, his Secretary, keeps up the laboratory notes when Dr. Bell cannot devote his own...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 27 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 9 1903, July 24, Friday At. B. B. Lab. Today Mr. Bell flew a large four-cell kite covered with red silk, the framework being of aluminum, each cell measuring 50 cm. The kite flew remarkably well, in fact surpassing the flight of any previous four-cell kite. A 25 cm. four-celled aluminum kite frame fastened together at the corners and centers by bronze castings, stood...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 28 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 1 1903, October 30, Friday At B. B. Balloons Versus Flying Machines By A.G. Bell Notes Dictated by A. G. B. to M. G. B. Oct 30, 1903: — The supporting power of a balloon increases as the cube of the diameter whereas the weight of the envelope increases only as the square. In flying machines, on the other hand, the supporting power increases...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 29 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 2 well as the smaller It is different however with flying machines. Numerous small models of flying machines have been made which have actually flown, and the inventors have naturally assumed that a large machine on the same model would be equally successful — but after they have gone to the trouble and expense of constructing machines supposed to be large enough to carry...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 30 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 3 the quantity of gas and the weight is the weight of the envelope and contained gas. Now build a balloon of just twice the diameter it will hold just eight times the amount of gas the envelope will weigh just eight times the envelope of the smaller one if the material composing it is twice as thick. The weight of the whole balloon...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 31 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 4 1903, Nov. 13, Friday At. B. B. 10 First Experiments with Tetrahedral Kites By A. G. B. {Begin deleted text}Dictation taken by M. G. B.{End deleted text} Nov 13, 1903:— The time is at hand when it will be necessary to close the Beinn Bhreagh Laboratory for the winter, and only a very few more days of experiment remain. It might be well...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 32 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 5 Dictation taken by M. G. B. position — fortified by the experiments in Colonial Beach — that I published the results in the National Geographic Magazine and applied for U. S. patents. The principal work of the present season has been the verification of the results I had announced; and the construction of a framework built up of tetrahedral cells suitable for use...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 33 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 6 Victor cell made in 1902 This is identical with the form of cell used in my most successful Victor kite. I have not yet settled whether the omission of the interior oblique surfaces is, or is not an advantage, but in the last comparative experiment made the kite without interior oblique surfaces flew at a higher angle and with less pull than a...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 34 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 7 The framework was identical in both cases and also identical with the framework made in 1902. The difference between the frame of the 1902 and the 1903 kites lay not in the winged portion but in the character of the framework connecting the front and rear sets of cells. In the 1902 kite the cells were connected by longitudinal sticks with some form...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 35 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 8 In the {Begin deleted text}1902{End deleted text} 1903 kite the space between the two sets of cells is completely filled in with tetrahedral framework of the same kind as in the wings themselves— Victor Kite of 1903 making the whole structure rigid. The light tetrahedral framework of the {Begin deleted text}1902{End deleted text} 1903 kite is much stronger and more rigid than the...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 36 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 9 Victor Kite of 1903 “McNeil's baby” The oblique surfaces are equivalent to 22-½ triangles {Begin deleted text}gaving{End deleted text} having each a side of 50 cm. McNeil's Baby turns out to be a beautiful kite flying steadily in the slightest breeze at a very high angle of cord, certainly not less than 80 degrees. Indeed when there is an absolute calm on the...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 37 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 10 The two wing pieces were therefore connected together directly end to end so as to make one wing piece of double the length. A bridle was attached at the centre as shown and we tried flying it from the top of a bamboo pole. To my surprise it flew perfectly well; but a very slight change in the bridle caused it to be...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 38 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 11 1903, November 13, Friday. Dictated to M. G. B. At B. B. When the cord was attached as shown, the kite soared and the cord appeared to be vertical or nearly so. This result is very astonishing ; x and the kite , x relieved of its load of empty framework, weighs far less per square metre of surface than any other we...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 39 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 12 1903, November 15, Sunday At B. B. Nov 15, 1903:— Dictated to M. G. B. The two wing pieces of McNeil's Baby being detachable from the body were used in the construction of the last kite described, and the body framework has been utilized in the construction of another pair of wing pieces. I have hither–to spoken of McNeil's Baby kite in the...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 40 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 13 A third kite of the same kind was made with the framework all of one piece as shown below: and — as was expected — the single frame weighed less than the similar frame made in three sections. This again emphasizes the fact that a continuous framework of tetrahedral cells weighs less proportionately if large than small. Two cubic metres of framework for...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 41 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 14 framework formed of tetrahedral cells, and I now see that it is also true of any kind of open framework. It may be convenient for the purpose of demonstration to build up our framework in cubical form so that our unit surfaces may be squares and our {Begin deleted text} {End deleted text} unit volumes cubes. A square frame of one foot has...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 42 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 15 Having established the fact that a frame one foot square weighs 3.6 ounces, let us consider the weight of a cubical frame of the same sort. A cube of one foot has six faces each of one square foot, but it would not take six square frames like the above to make it, for allowance must be made for the thickness of the...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 43 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 16 Surface Extension. We would fall into error were we to assume that 2 square feet of framing need weigh twice as much as one square foot. It is true that we could place two one-foot frames side by side. but the doubling of adjoining sides of the two squares would evidently be an undesirable feature adding unnecessarily to the weight of the compound...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 44 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 1903, March 25, Friday At Conn. Ave. Thoughts dictated to W. M. Mitchell. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY By A.G. Bell Mar 25, 1903:— When a grounded wire is carried up vertically to a considerable height in the atmosphere, it is normally the case that the electrical potential of the elevated point is different from that of the ground, — hence a slight electrical current traverses the...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 45 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 2 By the agency of clockwork, or by means of a little water-wheel, or by other agencies, the interrupter can be kept rotating for an indefinite time. Now let this be done and the effect perceived at the telephone will be — a continuous feeble musical tone {Begin deleted text}at{End deleted text} of high pitch, something like the continued buzzing of a mosquito; This...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 46 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 3 destroying intelligibility. It would be better of course to have an unbroken circuit. In the case of the wireless telegraph receiver described above, the interrupter would be unnecessary if speech, or signals having the frequency of a sound, were being transmitted in a wireless manner; but it is doubtful whether the telephone could distinguish slow signals spelling Morse characters, unless the circuit was...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 47 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 4 The following experiments would be well worthy of trial. Erect two poles at a moderate distance apart — far enough apart to be out of earshot from one another. Upon them attach vertical wires forming the antennae of a wireless telegraph system. In each case introduce between the antenna and the ground, the secondary coils of an induction coil. Place a telephone transmitter...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 48 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... Full Tetrahedral Construction Number of Cells On Side In first layer In whole structure 1 1 1 2 3 4 3 6 10 4 10 20 5 15 35 6 21 56 7 28 84 8 36 120 9 45 165 10 55 220 11 66 286 12 78 364 13 91 455 14 105 560 15 120 680 16 136 816 17 153...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 49 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... DICTATIONS REGARDING LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS At Beinn Bhreagh, Baddeck, N. S. 1904.
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 50 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 51 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 52 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 53 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 54 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 55 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 1904, June 19 Sunday At B. B. Hall. {Begin deleted text} June 19, 1904: —{End deleted text} Dictated by A.G.B. to M.G.B. Arrived here Saturday night June 11, 1904. And it {Begin deleted text}not{End deleted text} seems that it would be wise to make some sort of plan {Begin deleted text}s{End deleted text} for the distribution of my time. For years past I have...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 56 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 2 1:00 P. M. as there is always plenty of time for me to take my lunch while experiments are going on. Dinner at 6:30. 1904 {Begin deleted text}LABORATORY WORK{End deleted text} June 19, 1904: — The experiments that have been carried on in the laboratory for some years past have resulted in the discovery of a successful plan of building large and strong...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 57 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 3 The mode of building the structure has been settled — namely — {Begin deleted text} {End deleted text} tying tetrahedral cells together by their corners and distributing the strain through groups of cells by beading of heavier material surrounding the groups. If we compare our structure to a living organism the light tetrahedral frames correspond to the organic cells constituting flesh and blood...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 58 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 4 to surfaces horizontally arranged that a structure designed to lift a load of 200 kilogrammes would have to be enormously larger if utilizing oblique surfaces, than if all surfaces were horizontal. A structure however, composed almost exclusively of winged cells, seems to be much superior in stability to one utilizing mainly horizontal surfaces, and there is no question in my mind that the...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 59 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 5 in the rear, well separated by empty framework. But the empty framework constitutes a dead load to be carried, whereas in the Mabel form we have no similar dead load, and it is questionable whether a Mabel kite of inferior lifting power without any dead load to be carried may not be equal in resultant lifting power to the Victor kite with its...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 60 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 6 1904, July 3, Sunday At B. B. H. July 3, 1904 Dictated by A.G.B. to M.G.B. In considering the character of a flying structure to be entrusted with a human life, stability in the air under varying conditions is of the first consequence. Important as it is to make an arrangement of surfaces having great lifting power it is still more important that...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 61 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 7 of gravity becomes larger and it is a matter of simple observation that the many celled tetrahedral kite is much more stable in the air than kites of similar construction having a smaller number of cells: So the general conclusion seems to be arising that stability is favored by the omission of resisting surfaces from the center of the kite and their removal...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 62 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 8 point on the equator opposite the center of gravity and between it and the wind. The most stable part of the shell would be a vertical ring passing through the poles. Thus to produce stability during downward motions under gravity we want a horizontal slice of the sphere through the equator cut out in the middle so as to constitute a flat ring....
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 63 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 9 two vertical rings well separated will be an element of stability under descent. This goes right back to an old conception of mine — the spherical cell — a model of which I constructed of paste — board last year or the year before — but which has not yet been tested in actual practice. AGB
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 64 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 10 1904, July 8, Friday At B.B. Dictated by A.G.B. to M.G.B. July 8, 1904:— Some important experiments have been made within the last few days at the Laboratory to test how far horizontal surfaces could safely be added in kites of pure tetrahedral construction without materially affecting their stability, — four 16 celled tetrahedral kites out of 25 cm. winged cells. In one...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 65 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 11 themselves with the next gust. The kites with the added horizontal aeroplanes were undoubtedly superior to the standard kite in a supporting wind. The one with 5000 sq. cm. was the best and flew well in a wind which would hardly support a standard. The kites with horizontal surfaces however, while very satisfactory kites in their general behavior, seemed to be less still...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 66 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 12 We have had such kites tumbling over and over in the air, whirling around the string as a center, but in all these cases inspection has revealed a defect of construction — now it has been a broken stick, and again a crooked keel, so that the stern cell has acted as a rudder and steered the thing continuously to one side. But...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 67 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,... 13 distribution of the surface that might account for the peculiar behavior noticed above. We now sew the silk to the keel sticks of cells in every case. A. G. B. per M. G. B. 31
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 68 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 69 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 70 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02
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Image 71 of Journal by Alexander Graham Bell, from January 2,...
- Contributor: Bell, Alexander Graham
- Date: 1903-01-02