The combination shovel, helmet, mess tin: wisely, the Army passed (Popular Mechanics, Feb. 1917).
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Month: November 2019
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Biker Gear
Although motorcycles with sidecars continued to be developed in most armies right thought WW2, this moto-machine gun emplacement never caught on. Popular Mechanics, Feb. 1917.
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Tethered Helicopter
Austrian Stephan Petroczy built this helicopter with three 120HP engines and counter-rotating props near the end of WW1; tethered like a balloon, it reached a height of 150 ft. The observers were carried in the drum mounted above the props (Popular Mechanics, June 1921, p. 828).
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Auto-Lavabo
The auto-lavabo has gone the way of automobile running boards. I think it was just a sink, really. For refreshing oneself.
(Popular Mechanics, June 1921).
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Snow Tow
Hardcore snowmobiling–towed behind a motorized sled with a spiked wheel! (Popular Mechanics, March 1917)
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Proto-Snowmobile
This New Hampshire rig has the classic configuration: engine in front supported by skis; tracked rear drive (Popular Mechanics, March 1917):
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Long Barrel of the Law
Sheriff Frank Barnet of Alameda Co. CA invented this cunning pistol barrel extension cum nightstick. Didn’t catch on! (Popular Mechanics, March 1917)
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Snow Chopper
This early snowmobile looks very cozy. And scary at 25mph! (Popular Mechanics, April 1917)
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Flying Torpedo Tug
At first glance, this looks fine: a very small torpedo boat. Then the second half of the article reveals that the boat is actually a pontoon towed by an aircraft… (Popular Mechanics, July 1917)
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Ironman
Too heavy for infantry and awkward on uneven ground, these mobile personnel shields, designed by Col. Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne (of FT-17 fame) were rarely used (Popular Mechanics, April 1917).
