Monday, November 18, 2019

What Is It?




This picture defies any explanation. It looks circa WW1 or during the inter-war period. It has a sort of Steampunk look to it.

If you have any thoughts, ideas or opinions then please leave a comment.

15 comments:

  1. Some sort of primitive listening device for detecting enemy movements across no man's land?

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  2. I suspect that these are either victims of a gas attack, or shell-shocked during an explosion - blinded, stunned ...

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  3. Acoustic aircraft detection system. Later versions were much much larger cones and which looked like tubas on pram wheels and a concrete "mirrors" were built in the 30's to reflect sound!
    Have a google and you'll see what I mean 🤪

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    1. Stuart is correct. I've seen many photos of other versions of these. They're to detect incoming aircraft using sound.

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  4. I agree with Stuart. Just cup your hands around your ears to see how much more clearly you can hear.

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  5. Stuart is right. A quick search by image says this is a German Aircraft detection station in 1917. Amazing photo. A German super villain circa 1900 with these on would be welcome in my 54mm collection.

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    1. Thanks for the photo search origin. Very interesting. I was thinking that the uniforms looked German.

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  6. Early prototype merchandise for the Mickey Mouse Club ?

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  7. There were even sillier ones! https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/aircraft-detection-radar-1917-1940/

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  8. I was about to comment that they were listening devices to detect aircraft, but I see that a few people have beat me to it. :-)

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  9. None of the above. It's early Mickey Mouse ears

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