136 



Popular Science Monthly 



Diagram of apparatus for 

 photographing wild animals 



How to Photograph Wild Animals 



IT will often prove desirable to operate 

 tlie shutter of a camera at a distance, 

 especially in photographing birds, rep- 

 tiles or animals in natural poses. The 

 device shown in the accompanying 

 illustration serves the purpose, and its 

 construction and operation are simple. 

 In brief, the description and operation 

 are as follows: The switch, A , or a push- 

 button, is mountid where the operator 

 will not be conspicuous, and is connected, 

 in series, with a magnet B and several 

 cells of a battery, by means of a llexible 

 conductor, such as a lamp-cord. Tlie 

 magnet B is energized when the switcli 

 A is closed, and attracts the iron arma- 

 ture C, which is mounted on an arm, 

 pivoted at D. The lower end of this 

 arm is in the form of a latch, which 

 supports the rod E when it is raised 1o 

 its upper position. The rod K, wlun 

 raised as depicted, compresses the coiled 

 spring F, which is held between tin- 

 gage G and the washer //, mounted on 



the rod. A small coiled spring not 

 shown holds the armature C away from 

 the core of the magnet B. The lower 

 end of the rod E is in the form of a 

 piston, which operates in a wooden 

 c\linder /. The rubber bulb at the end 

 of the tube leading to the camera 

 shutter is located in the lower end of 

 the wooden cylinder /. The device is 

 now complete. As soon as the switch 

 is thrown, the magnet B is energized. 

 This moves the latch K, and this in 

 turn releases the rod E, and the piston 

 at the end of the rod moves downward 

 in the cylinder, on account of the com- 

 pression of the spring F. The piston 

 plunges down on the rubber bulb L, 

 causing the shutter to be operated in 

 the camera. 



The operator may, of course, be 

 stationed several hundred feet away, 

 and in this case there must be a decided 

 increase in battery power. By means 

 of this outfit, pictures can be secured of 

 shy animals, reptiles, etc., that would 

 never venture out of their hiding places 

 during the presence of a photographer. 

 Many other uses will suggest themselves 

 to the constructor. 



Converting a Key-socket Into a 

 Simple Pull-socket 



RIVET together 

 the ends of 

 two strips of stiff 

 brass 3 ins. long 

 and yi in. wide. 

 About I in. from 

 both ends punch a 

 hole to receive 

 bolts about -'4 in. 

 long, 3/16 in. in 

 diameter. Place 

 the key of the 

 socket in the cen- 

 ter of the strips 

 and tighten up the 

 bolts". Attach 

 strings to the end 

 of the strips. Hy 

 simjily ]>ulling the 

 strings the light 

 can be turned on 

 or olT as desired. 

 The materials for 

 this socket can be 



A pull-socket made 

 from a key -socket 



found in an\' work- 



shop.— J. M. Coiii'N. 



