Airplane and Automobile in One
THERE is no telling what aviation may come to. In the future we may see such contraptions as shown above flying about.

Actually, this is just a P.R. photo of all of the little people who starred in the Wizard of Oz. The boards are normal size.

Lifeguards Use Surfboards

LIFEGUARDS at Los Angeles, Calif., have been equipped with new surfboards and new inhalator machines to facilitate their task of patroling five miles of beach. The surfboards are constructed like airplane wings, being of hollow construction, and are said to be much faster than the old type lifeboats.

Radio-Telephone Aids Police

MOTOR PATROLMEN, through the latest development in police communication, perfected by Bell Telephone laboratories, can now carry on a two-way conversation with headquarters without leaving their cars. The radio car transmitter weighs but 20 pounds, has a power of 5 watts, and is crystal controlled. The sound of the patrolman’s voice automatically puts the transmitter on the air.

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Miniature Sets Make Museums Come to Life

by LLOYD S. GRAHAM

Designed with infinite attention to minute detail are the small three-dimension picture sets built by modern museums to depict such scenes as the rising of the pyramids and the temple worship of ancient Mayans. Elaborate methods of construction used in erecting plaster buildings and shaping wax figures into such life-like form that they almost seem to breathe are described here. Read the rest of this entry »

WHAT I WANT NEXT

SI readers come up with a few tough assignments for the scientists and inventors

RUFFLE IRONER. If some nice man of science would invent a ruffle ironer, I would gladly mention him in my will. You’ve no idea how much help it would be for ironing curtains, aprons, and dresses. It might be made as an attachment to an ordinary iron, or it could be a special little plug-in gadget. Either would suit me, but if it is hard to operate, I’ll cut the inventor off without a cent! Read the rest of this entry »