Appendix C 



THE BATHYSPHERE OF 1934 

 by John Tee-Yan 



IN the four years since it first plunged into the sea to a 

 record depth of 1426 feet, the bathysphere has slowly be- 

 come a more perfectly adapted machine for its unique 

 task. In Appendix B, Mr. Barton has described the sphere 

 as it was in the first year; the following account will note 

 the changes that have been made since then; what the 

 bathysphere is like today. For convenience, the accounts 

 of the various parts of the bathysphere have been separated 

 into sections. Figures 122 and 123 will help especially to 

 clarify some of the statements. 



Main Casting: The bathysphere itself, as far as the orig- 

 inal casting with its window turrets, cable entrance, cable 

 attachment flange, wooden base, and doorway are con- 

 cerned, is the same as when built. The casting, fifty-four 

 inches inside diameter and five thousand pounds in weight, 

 is from i ^ to i ^4 inches thick and is made of the finest 

 grade of open-hearth steel. A minor change has been made 

 in the windows and will be mentioned under that heading. 



Doorway: The original 400 pound door with the same 



studs and ten brass nuts is used, although the copper washer 



236 



