Mystery Gadget 71

This was equipment aboard a large ocean liner. What did it do?

Answer is here, or after the jump.

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Paul - Sun Mar 03, 2019
Category: Oceans and Maritime Pursuits | Technology | 1930s

Comments

My guess was an underwater exploration vessel.

agent j

Posted by agent j on 03/03/19 at 10:23 AM

Until the advent of the Global Position System, gyroscopes were used for navigation extensively by long distance vehicles such as ships and aircraft. I worked at one time for Honeywell Aircraft Division and in their "museum" at the plant there were gyroscopes made by the company on display. The earliest models looked like the one pictured here but much smaller. Get a toy gyroscope and you'll see how they resist efforts to unbalance them.

Posted by KDP on 03/03/19 at 11:35 AM

So it's not a big cocktail shaker?

Posted by Virtual on 03/03/19 at 04:53 PM

I recognized this one right away, since I played with toy gyroscopes as a young boy.

Posted by Fritz on 03/04/19 at 06:29 AM

But did it work?

Posted by Wilson on 03/04/19 at 12:25 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.