An Observation-Tower Car for the Army 



It would serve as an outpost station for wire- 

 less apparatus, signaling and sharp shooting 



TO enable an army to maintain unin- 

 terrupted communication between 

 scattered forces and headquarters, 

 two New A'ork City men have devised a 

 new form of armored car, with folding steel 

 tower for wireless apparatus, signaling, 

 observation and sharp shooting, and have 

 offered it to the Government for immediate 

 use. National Guardsmen, after putting 

 the car to a severe test recently, reported 

 favorably upon it. 



The tower of the armored automo- 

 bile is of steel and extends twenty-five 

 feet in the air. When the ma- 

 chine is in motion and the 

 tower is not used for obser\ a- 

 tion purposes, it may be folded 

 back as showyi in one of the 

 illustrations. On the top 

 of the tower, when 

 it is extended to its 

 full 

 length, 

 is a 

 small platform 

 with just 

 enough room 

 for one man 

 and a machine 

 gun, the latter 

 capable of be- 

 ing used for 

 offensive or de- 

 fensive pur- 

 poses. 



When 

 used for 



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The armored tower car traveling at high speed with 

 the top portion of the steel tower folded back 



rbotoe«E/AmeT. 

 Frees Assoc. 



National Guardsmen using the car as a 

 signaling station. At night colored lights 

 would be used instead of the flags 



signaling and observation work the car 

 may take up a certain position and be con- 

 sidered as an outpost station, or it may 

 move about from one section of the coun- 

 try to the other, keeping in communica- 

 tion with the general staff by means of its 

 wireless apparatus. Furthermore, it may 

 be used with equal facility at night, signal- 

 ing being carried on with the aid of search- 

 lights or by wig-wagging with lights 

 instead of the usual flags. With the car 

 traveling at high speed a man can take up 

 his position at the top of the tower and wig- 

 wag information to other moving observa- 

 tion towers, or obtain military knowledge 

 while moving through the enemy's country 

 at great speed in the event of the failure of 

 the ordinary means of con:munication. 



887 



