Topic: Obscure Steam Engine Item

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Recently acquired----This speed indicator was installed on most French steamengines by the end of WWI
All such devices were speed recorders as well as speed indicators. The record was kept on a paper tape that could be unrolled and examined at the end of a run to provide evidence of the speeds attained on the journey. Accidents had occurred on lines with steep gradients and sharp curves, and it was expected that speed recording would lead to better control of train speed. Some French railways provided bonuses for keeping time and for economy in fuel use, and it was suspected that such incentives might lead to excessive speeds at times. Knowing that one's performance could be examined was a strong motive for keeping within the speed limit.

The most popular speed recorder turned out to be the French-designed Flaman recorder, in which the tape was driven by the locomotive wheels at the scale of 5 mm per km. The speed was determined by integration, as in the Hausshaelter recorder, but with intervals of 3.6 seconds. The integration is performed by a ratchet wheel driven by a square cam, so that the wheel moves forward four spaces for each rotation of the cam. The action is the same regardless of the direction of travel. Another shaft, driven by the clock, controls the resetting of the ratchets. The scale of the speed curve is 0.4 mm per kmph, and the range of the recorder is 0 to 130 kmph. This is the lower curve on the chart, showing speed as a function of distance, v = v(s).
This item is 2 feet tall and weighs about 80 pounds.

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Chart referred to:

[Bob Wessner]

Very interesting stuff you have there. How do you come across all this?

P.S. Even had big brother looking over their shoulder back then, eh?

[gerhed]

Very interesting stuff you have there. How do you come across all this?

P.S. Even had big brother looking over their shoulder back then, eh?

I have a modest collection of old meters of various kinds
so I'm always on the lookout for anything with a gauge on it.
Had my eye on this one for about 2 years--it was in a small place
in Bruceton Mills, W.V. laying on its side--out of he way.
Can you believe no one else grabbed this baby ?

[burmashave]

This item is 2 feet tall and weighs about 80 pounds.

That is very cool.  I admire old works of serious mechanical ingenuity. 

[xtalon]

...and you bought it to convert into a very cool bathroom scale, right? 

Seriously though, very interesting!

--xTalon

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The speed indicator was  made by a precision clockwork manufacturer in Paris named Vaucason.
Named for an early 1700's inventor Jacques de Vaucason who's most famous invention was a mechanical duck.
The duck had more than 400 movable parts, and could beat its wings, drink water, digest grain, and defecate . It is attributed to him to have created the first flexible rubber tube during the process of construction of the internal of the duck. In spite of the revolutionary nature of his robots, it is said that he tired quickly of them and sold them in 1743.

[BobbyR]

What a find! A great piece Railroad memorbilia. I work for a Railcar builder and we put "event recorders" in each car. I will tell you this, years from now no one will give them a second look. This piece you have found has not only functio, but also form.   

[gerhed]

What a find! A great piece Railroad memorbilia. I work for a Railcar builder and we put "event recorders" in each car. I will tell you this, years from now no one will give them a second look. This piece you have found has not only functio, but also form.   

It would be interesting to see a printout from one of your recorders.

Mine still works too.
Clock winds up and ticks away.
I may shine it up.
I think the front is solid brass.

[BobbyR]

Actually todays "Event Recorder" writes to a hard drive and can hold about four days worth of data. It continually overwrites the data. It is downloaded only in the event of an accident. It monitors much more than speed. The speeds are sometimes derived from a Doppler system under the car, and in other cases via a tachometer that reads wheel revolutions via a magnetic pick up. The same principle as your speed recorder. The "Event Recorders" are mounted in the middle of the cars above the ceiling panels. This is where you should be sitting. I tell my friends and family to always ride in the middle of the middle car of any train.

[gerhed]

Actually todays "Event Recorder" writes to a hard drive and can hold about four days worth of data. It continually overwrites the data. It is downloaded only in the event of an accident. It monitors much more than speed. The speeds are sometimes derived from a Doppler system under the car, and in other cases via a tachometer that reads wheel revolutions via a magnetic pick up. The same principle as your speed recorder. The "Event Recorders" are mounted in the middle of the cars above the ceiling panels. This is where you should be sitting. I tell my friends and family to always ride in the middle of the middle car of any train.

Good advice to ride in the middle of the middle car.
In 1973 I was riding an old Illinois Central commutter train out of South Chicago towards Chicago.
At 27th street the Illinois Central ran into a new double decker that was backing up.
The old train went right inside the new train up to the middle doors.
43 people killed--all up and down my street.-I was in the middle of the middle.--still there.

[BobbyR]

Actually todays "Event Recorder" writes to a hard drive and can hold about four days worth of data. It continually overwrites the data. It is downloaded only in the event of an accident. It monitors much more than speed. The speeds are sometimes derived from a Doppler system under the car, and in other cases via a tachometer that reads wheel revolutions via a magnetic pick up. The same principle as your speed recorder. The "Event Recorders" are mounted in the middle of the cars above the ceiling panels. This is where you should be sitting. I tell my friends and family to always ride in the middle of the middle car of any train.

Good advice to ride in the middle of the middle car.
In 1973 I was riding an old Illinois Central commutter train out of South Chicago towards Chicago.
At 23rd street the Illinois Central ran into a new double decker that was backing up.
The old train went right inside the new train up to the middle doors.
43 people killed--all up and down my street.-I was in the middle of the middle.--still there.

My co worker was in the Train right behind you. We have the reports of wrecks from around the World. There is some new designs coming out that will help prevent cars from penetrating each other. Glad you made it through the wreck. Polish  that brass and admire your find.