Rev olv ing Beacon s 



Where damage to crops is done at night, a revolving Deacon, rotated 

 by air currents, can be easily constructed. This is made by bolting six 

 curved sheet-metal wings (made from the sides of 1 -quart tin cans) equally 

 spaced on the rim of a front bicycle wheel (fig. 1, C) . Two 1/2-inch-long 

 stove bolts and a small strip of tin about 1 by 3-1 /3 inches, punched about 

 1/2 inch from each end with a hole large enough for a stove bolt, can be 

 used to attach the wings. Each wing is punched with three holes, two for 

 insertion of the stove bolts and one at the opposite end for fastening a re- 

 enforcing wire, as shown in the illustration. The small tin strip is bent 

 around the back of the wheel rim opposite the base of each wing, as illus- 

 trated, so that when the bolts are inserted and tightened it will serve as 

 clamp for anchoring the wing. 



Where there is not enough xvind to revolve the beacons, a small electric 

 fan, like that used in automobiles, can be so mounted near the beacon that 

 it will blow against the wings and make the wheel revolve. These fans can 

 be operated from 6-volt storage batteries that can be recharged at low cost. 

 They should be sheltered at the top and aides against damage by rain or snow. 

 The wheel is mounted in a horizontal position on top of a 1-inch iron pipe 

 that has been driven into the ground near the center of the field. Mounting 

 can bo readily accomplished by using a 1-inch pipe cap (fig. 1, E) with a 

 hole drilled in the center (fig. 1, l) . This hole should be j ? ast large enough 

 to permit the wheel's axle to be inserted and securely fastened with a nut. 

 Usually a pipe 6-1/2 feet long, driven 2 feet into the ground, is suitable, but 

 if the soil is soft a longer pipe or guy-wire supports may be needed. A pipe 

 cap should be placed on the uppper end of the pipe before driving to prevent 

 damage to the threads. The wheel bearings should be thoroughly lubricated. 

 The speed of rotation can be regulated l^y tightening or loosening the cones 

 on the axle . 



Two small electric reflecting lanterns are mounted back to back on a 

 wooden block by screws through holes punched in the base flanges. This block, 

 made of 2-by-6-inch soft wood, cut 9 to 10 inches long, is fastened on top 

 of the center of the bicycle wheel by means of four 2-1 /2-inch eye-bolts 

 equipped with wing nuts (fig. 1, D) . The "eyes" should be opened slightly with 

 a cold chisel so that each can be hooked over the intersecting point of two of 

 the wheel spokes (fig. 1, C). A hole about 3/4. inch in diameter should be 

 drilled at the center of the block to accommodate the projecting upper end of 

 the wheel's axle. Four smaller holes, just large enough for the cyebolts, 

 should bo drilled near the corners of the block so that the bolts can fasten 

 it tightly to the wheel, as shown in the illustration. 



Inexpensive electric lanterns using dry-cell batteries that give 80 to 

 100 hours' service and throwing an 800-foot beam are satisfactory for small 

 fields. If operated only when needed, usually for about an hour after sun- 

 set and an hour before sunrise, the operating cost is small. Eields more 

 than 1,200 feet wide will require several beacons. 



