The Signaling Mirror: WWII US Government Training Film

[jrcadet4]

I recently lucked onto a signal mirror just like the ones demonstrated in this training film. Nice to have a better idea how one would use it!

[seeker1028]

Thank you! for posting this, I have tried to teach troops to carry a mirror in all their kits. Now with this they will see that it is valuable and not just a waste of time to learn and to carry

[ufoengines]

Very nice film. I just posted a vid of my home made Heliograph. While testing it, I looked into the beam of light to see just how well it worked, and I can tell you that 20 million candle power number seems close to right. VERY BRIGHT! Read that a Heliograph was able to send a flash seen 189 miles from Az to Ut. in the 1890's . Don't know if any code was sent.

[rafowell]

@ufoengines Thanks! Nice helio! The heliograph entry in Wikipedia has a list of external links at the end. The first link leads to a page with a button: build your own Hg: at the top that leads to a number of heliograph plans. The Wikipedia article also gives the link record as 183 miles between Utah and Colorado Sept 17 1894, and a footnote link leading to book online with the details on pp. 10 and 11. They did send code both ways.

[RustedCaltrop]

great video.

[n7tek]

How did you get a hold of this old training film???!!! And how did you get it converted to a video format for uploading onto youtube? The signaling distance stated in the film is a bit short from my experience but then again I'm usually signaling through dry desert air not moisture laden ocean air. There is a big difference.

[rafowell]

@n7tek : I saw this film referenced in WWII documents, and asked the US Coast Guard historian, who sent me to the US National Archives, who had a copy. I followed the Archives standard process for copying of movies in their collection, It was expensive - $285 was the low bid. I converted the contractor's version from professional format to MPEG4 on my Mac and uploaded it. The range is conservative, yes. See my YouTube video demonstrating 43 mile range with a 3"x5" mirror.

[CaptainBerz]

I love old time videos like this!