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306 parent pithiness, which when combined with ingenious construction makes it possible for the finished product to withstand severe loads as shown in the accompanying illustration. These floats are manufactured in four standard sizes which respectively accommodate 15, 25,40 and 60 persons each. They are so proportioned that they will nest or stow one on top of LIFE FLOATS—FOUR FLOATS WILL SUPPORT 140 PERSONS NESTED BALSA the other in a deck space, equal in area to that required for the largest float which is 13 feet long by 8 feet 8 inches wide, and, in a height of about 4 feet. The neatness with which they stow is shown in the accompany- ing illustration. And odd size can of course be made on special order. Large numbers of floats similar to those described and illustrated here were carried during the war by vessels of the shipping board, army trans- port service and the navy, and many survivors: of submarine or miné owe their lives to them. ae Clear View Screens an Aid to Navigation Clear view screens consist of a polished glass disk rotated on a cen- : tral bearing by an electric motor at such a speed that rain, spray and snow are instantly dispersed. Com- plete transparency is maintained in all weather conditions. With equal efficiency the rotating disk throws off its surface a green sea or wet fog. The complete instrument is sup- plied in two standard forms. In the first, a mechanical unit consisting of disk, frame, motor and motor bracket, is mounted in a polished teak frame, which will take the place of an exist- ing window in the wheel house or wing shelter. A metal frame hinges inward to allow access to the front of the disk. In the second type, known as the hood pattern, the mechanical unit is mounted in a hood that revolves up- on a metal pedestal. This type is MARINE REVIEW suitable for any exposed position such as an open bridge. Inside the hood there are teak wood elbow- rests, so that the observer may put head and shoulders within the shelter of the hood and use his glasses in comfort, unaffected by the weather. By a movement of his body he can revolve the hood in any direction that he requires to search. The hood has a canvas back to protect the in- side when not in use. The clear view screen can be furnished with a pelo- rus for determining bearing. Further information can be obtained from Charles Cory & Son Inc., 183 Varick street, New York, who are the exclusive licensees for this product in United States and Canada. Radio Compass on the U.S. Liner America The cabin steamer AMERICA operated by the United States Lines between New York and Bremen, Germany, calls at Cobh, Ireland, Plymouth, Eng- land and Cherbourg, France. She was formerly the AMERIKA, one of the crack liners of the Hamburg American line. This vessel is the largest cabin ship afloat and will carry approximately 1600 passengers in addition to a crew of 650. As a part of her equipment to in- sure safety she carries a radio com- pass which tells the captain or navi- CAPT. WILLIAM RIND OF THE S. 6S. AMERICA TAKING BEARINGS WITH _ THE RADIO COMPASS gator the bearing of the ship from any radio station along the shore or on a light ship. This instrument is in use now on approximately 125 ves- sels ranging in size from 100 tons up to 60,000 tons. With this device on _the bridge there is no need of using August, 1925 the ships radio set for obtaining bear- ings. This will aid considerably in re- ducing interference to concerts and communication along the coast. Then, too, the officer on duty can take his bearing whenever he wants’ them whether or not he is near a shore RADIO COMPASS AERIAL ON THE UNITED STATES LINER S. S. AMERICA direction finding station. In foreign waters he has had to pay the shore stations for bearings but. with the compass aboard ship there will be no charge. This instrument can be used not only along the coast but also in mid-ocean in checking the position of approaching ships and going to the rescue of ships in distress or direct- ing ships coming to the rescue. Due to its simplicity of operation and rugged construction, and further, its compactness, the device is easily adapted to any locality and can be operated by anyone who can read a compass card.” One of the accompanying illustra- tions shows the aerial of the radio compass on the bridge. The other shows Capt. William Rind, commander of the S. S. AMERICA taking bearings by rotating the square boxed aerial to line up with the direction of any radio station on shore or on a light- ship in this way obtaining the posi- tion of his ship quickly and accur- ately. This equipment is known as _ the Kolster radio compass and is manu- factured by the Federal Telegraph Co., California. It speaks well for the usefulness and need as well as the construction of this device that since 1921 when the first one was in- stalled not a single compass has been removed, according to the makers. Four other ships of the United States Lines including the LEVIATHAN are also equipped with this compass.