Description

Athelstan Frederick Spilhaus and Arni Paul Rehbock stand on a rooftop and hold a large weather balloon.

Original caption: "Aviators and meteorologists are interested in a new method of charting the direction and velocity of the night winds that blow high above the earth, which has been developed by Athelstan F. Spilhaus, (left) in the meteorological laboratories of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The apparatus consists of a sounding balloon, a length of fuse along which are attached magnesium flares, and a 180 degree camera. Igniting at predetermined intervals as the balloon drifts across the sky, the bright light of the flares is recorded by the camera, making a record from which direction and velocity may be plotted. Note the simplicity of the camera, which consists of a large lens barrel and shutter, and a plateholder. From the News Service of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.", "A, F. Spilhaus, staff MIT 1936, Rehbock of Dewey and Clay"