EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1921. 117 



the typewriter; a model two times enlarged of the type bar action; 

 a model two times enlarged of the roller trip escapement; and the 

 complete Royal typewriter. 



Activities and condition of collections. — Despite the handicap in- 

 curred through the resignation of Miss Bartlett early in the year, re- 

 sulting in a reduction of an experienced staff by one third, progress 

 was made in connection with the maintenance of the collections. 

 The work of reallocating the exhibits begun last year was continued 

 satisfactorily, and efforts were successful to a slight degree in procur- 

 ing new material to bring the several exhibition units more toward 

 completeness. As a result of the rearrangement, a satisfactory 

 amount of exhibition space became available, over 75 per cent of 

 which was gradually made use of for the installation of valuable 

 objects which, because of the crowded conditions existing before, 

 were of necessity placed in storage. The preparation, repair, and 

 installation of this material consumed fully 50 per cent of the time 

 of the preparator and aid, the balance being used in the design and 

 construction of new exhibits and the almost endless maintenance of 

 the delicate objects comprising the greater majority of the collections. 

 Prominent amongst the installations thus made, were the collection of 

 bicycles and the collection of rails, both of which collections are 

 becoming more and more valuable. Considerable time and work was 

 likewise involved for the whole staff in caring for the materials con- 

 tinuing in storage. Through tlie assignment of larger offices to the 

 division, there became available several basement rooms, which were 

 immediately used for the storage of materials assigned to the division 

 but heretofore scattered in three separate places. At this time an 

 examination of the materials was also made to determine what, if 

 any, redisposition could be made, each item being considered sepa- 

 rately. As a result, a group of 146 listed objects were transferred 

 elsewhere. 



In furthering the definite program of eliminating all possible 

 overlappings of the various Museum activities, there were trans- 

 ferred to the division of history 79 objects, all but 2 comprising a 

 biographical series relating to Joseph Henry. For this same general 

 reason four models of boats were transferred to the division of his- 

 tory, their value in history being greater than their value as ex- 

 amples of naval architecture. 



In the nature of new work mention may be made of the almost 

 complete reconstructioni' of the " Stourbridge Lion " locomotive 

 model following research conducted by this office, and the construc- 

 tion of a model of the airplane designed by Leonardo da Vinci about 

 1490 A. D. The necessary data for this work was obtained chiefly 

 from a photostat copy of da Vinci's notes and incomplete sketches. 

 Construction of a model of the Hensen aircraft, designed by Hensen 



