100 YEARS AGO

In our issue for June 24 we briefly described the run of the Turbinia from the Tyne to the Solent. We understand that during the three weeks the Turbinia was in the Solent she made frequent runs of many miles at a time, at speeds of from 30 to 35 knots …. On Tuesday, June 29, with a distinguished company on board, she was run up to nearly full power, and maintained the unprecedented speed of 35 knots, or over 40 miles per hour, for the length of the line of battle-ships, or about 5 miles. During this run there was an absence of strain, and from this fact it seems that the limit of speed in this little vessel has not yet been reached, and that after further improvements, at present in progress (having returned to the Tyne last week), she will be capable of not only maintaining her position as much the fastest vessel afloat, but will be able to give many knots to any competitor engined with reciprocating engines.

From Nature 15 July 1897.

50 YEARS AGO

A description of developments [in television] was given in a lecture on May 29 before the Television Society by Dr. D. Starkie, of the Plastics Division of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. Dr. Starkie demonstrated two prototype Schmidt television projection systems for home receivers, using cathode ray tubes of 21/4 or 31/2 in. diameter, respectively. The picture size given by both systems is 16 in. × 13 in., the chromatic aberration is small, and the resolution is claimed to be far better than is required for the present B.B.C. television transmissions using 405-line scanning. Although the smaller of the two systems requires a ‘throw distance’ of 40 in. between the cathode ray tube and the viewing screen, it was shown how this could conveniently be incorporated in a receiver console of normal dimensions. A third Schmidt system suitable for television projection in small cinemas was also demonstrated: this contained a mirror of 18 in. diameter and gave a picture with a length of diagonal of 121/2 ft.

From Nature 19 July 1947.

Many more abstracts like these can be found in ABedside Nature: Genius and Eccentricity in Science, 1869-1953, a 266-page book edited by Walter Gratzer. Contact David Plant. e-mail: subscriptions@nature.com