On Sunday, June 5th, 1944 at 12:00:26 PM UTC+1 Bernard Lovell wrote:

I have an idea for a really big wireless aerial. I want to listen in to
outer space, to find out what sort of programmes they have. I'm a bit
fed up with Luxembourg and as for the Light Programme...
Anyway, my aerial will be sort of dish shaped, and really really big.
I'm trying to draw up some plans to send to the council. I'll have to
get planning permission; this aerial is going to be big, really really
big like I said so there's a good chance some little council oik will
pedal past on his bike and spot it, and tell his boss.
Does anyone know how to draw a parabola? At least I think that's what
it's called. It's like a big curve; not part of a circle though, it's
different to that somehow. I've been messing around with a pencil and a
loop of string and two drawing pins but I can't seem to get it right. I
think part of the problem is that I can't get one of the drawing pins
far enough away. That one has to represent the stars, you see, so it has
to be a long way off. I had it stuck in the banister outside my bedroom
door but the landlady went mad.
Another thing, looking ahead, does anyone know a cheap source of curved
railway track, steel girders, big electric motors, and chicken wire?

Bernard Lovell

Bill Wright wrote:

On Sunday, June 5th, 1944 at 12:00:26 PM UTC+1 Bernard Lovell wrote:

June 5th was a Monday in 1944, and wasn't it UTC+2 during the war?

Raised a smile though ..

On 31/10/2017 11:02, Andy Burns wrote:
Bill Wright wrote:

On Sunday, June 5th, 1944 at 12:00:26 PM UTC+1 Bernard Lovell wrote:

June 5th was a Monday in 1944, and wasn't it UTC+2 during the war?

Raised a smile though ..


You can't expect a scientist to worry about small details like that! I
expect he'd been up all night trying to draw a parabola and didn't
realise it was Monday.

Bill

On 31/10/17 10:48, Bill Wright wrote:
On Sunday, June 5th, 1944 at 12:00:26 PM UTC+1 Bernard Lovell wrote:

I have an idea for a really big wireless aerial. I want to listen in to
outer space, to find out what sort of programmes they have. I'm a bit
fed up with Luxembourg and as for the Light Programme...
Anyway, my aerial will be sort of dish shaped, and really really big.
I'm trying to draw up some plans to send to the council. I'll have to
get planning permission; this aerial is going to be big, really really
big like I said so there's a good chance some little council oik will
pedal past on his bike and spot it, and tell his boss.
Does anyone know how to draw a parabola? At least I think that's what
it's called. It's like a big curve; not part of a circle though, it's
different to that somehow. I've been messing around with a pencil and a
loop of string and two drawing pins but I can't seem to get it right. I
think part of the problem is that I can't get one of the drawing pins
far enough away. That one has to represent the stars, you see, so it has
to be a long way off. I had it stuck in the banister outside my bedroom
door but the landlady went mad.
Another thing, looking ahead, does anyone know a cheap source of curved
railway track, steel girders, big electric motors, and chicken wire?

You want a parabola.

construct a male mould with a pivot in the middle, a parabolic template
and plaster of paris of indeed concrete


cover with candle wax or clingfilm, and then lay up a layer of gel coat,
followed by a layer of chuckenen wire, followed by several layers of
chopped strand mat


fix in support structure as you lay up


Bernard Lovell


--
"I guess a rattlesnake ain't risponsible fer bein' a rattlesnake, but ah
puts mah heel on um jess the same if'n I catches him around mah chillun".

On 31/10/2017 11:55, The Natural Philosopher wrote:


You want a parabola.

construct a male mould with a pivot in the middle, a parabolic template
and plaster of paris of indeed concrete


cover with candle wax or clingfilm, and then lay up a layer of gel coat,
followed byÂ* a layer of chuckenen wire, followed by several layers of
chopped strand mat


fix in support structure as you lay up


Easier than that, just a loop of string around two points an infinite
distance apart.

On 31/10/2017 12:01, newshound wrote:
On 31/10/2017 11:55, The Natural Philosopher wrote:


You want a parabola.

construct a male mould with a pivot in the middle, a parabolic
template and plaster of paris of indeed concrete


cover with candle wax or clingfilm, and then lay up a layer of gel
coat, followed byÂ* a layer of chuckenen wire, followed by several
layers of chopped strand mat


fix in support structure as you lay up


Easier than that, just a loop of string around two points an infinite
distance apart.

Oh bugger, didn't read the OP properly, sorry!

On 31/10/2017 12:02, newshound wrote:
On 31/10/2017 12:01, newshound wrote:
On 31/10/2017 11:55, The Natural Philosopher wrote:


You want a parabola.

construct a male mould with a pivot in the middle, a parabolic
template and plaster of paris of indeed concrete


cover with candle wax or clingfilm, and then lay up a layer of gel
coat, followed byÂ* a layer of chuckenen wire, followed by several
layers of chopped strand mat


fix in support structure as you lay up


Easier than that, just a loop of string around two points an infinite
distance apart.

Oh bugger, didn't read the OP properly, sorry!

It seems to me these very old posts (that have presumably been sitting
on a server for ages) cause a lot of confusion.

Incidentally I did once speak to Bernard Lovell, and I got a nod back.
There was a religio-maniac heckling him and as he left I said to him,
'Bloody nutters!' I'd be about sixteen.

Bill

replying to Bill Wright, Iggy wrote:
Not that space is real or anything but a lie/buggered/********, but I hope
you're kidding/having a laugh/barmy. As well, the aerial or half bracelet
would need to be adjustable, for focusing. And, in case you don't know, radio
signals die almost immediately just from distance...they die quickest in the
nothingness-space we've been sold.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy...l-1246533-.htm

On 31/10/2017 13:14, Iggy wrote:
replying to Bill Wright, Iggy wrote:
Not that space is real or anything but a lie/buggered/********, but I hope
you're kidding/having a laugh/barmy. As well, the aerial or half bracelet
would need to be adjustable, for focusing. And, in case you don't know,
radio
signals die almost immediately just from distance...they die quickest in
the
nothingness-space we've been sold.

Is this a HomeOwnersHub record for old posts?

--
Max Demian

On Tuesday, 31 October 2017 10:48:05 UTC, Bill Wright wrote:
Another thing, looking ahead, does anyone know a cheap source of curved
railway track, steel girders, big electric motors, and chicken wire?

Your local Network Rail depot will have most of that, except possibly the chicken wire.

But wouldn't it be easier to just buy a dish from someone near Heathrow Airport?

Owain

On 31/10/2017 17:22, wrote:
On Tuesday, 31 October 2017 10:48:05 UTC, Bill Wright wrote:
Another thing, looking ahead, does anyone know a cheap source of curved
railway track, steel girders, big electric motors, and chicken wire?

Your local Network Rail depot will have most of that, except possibly the chicken wire.

But wouldn't it be easier to just buy a dish from someone near Heathrow Airport?

Owain

In the 1940s? No, in them days we had to make do and mend.

Bill

On 31/10/2017 10:48, Bill Wright wrote:
On Sunday, June 5th, 1944 at 12:00:26 PM UTC+1 Bernard Lovell wrote:

I have an idea for a really big wireless aerial. I want to listen in to
outer space, to find out what sort of programmes they have. I'm a bit
fed up with Luxembourg and as for the Light Programme...
Anyway, my aerial will be sort of dish shaped, and really really big.
I'm trying to draw up some plans to send to the council. I'll have to
get planning permission; this aerial is going to be big, really really
big like I said so there's a good chance some little council oik will
pedal past on his bike and spot it, and tell his boss.
Does anyone know how to draw a parabola? At least I think that's what
it's called. It's like a big curve; not part of a circle though, it's
different to that somehow. I've been messing around with a pencil and a
loop of string and two drawing pins but I can't seem to get it right. I
think part of the problem is that I can't get one of the drawing pins
far enough away. That one has to represent the stars, you see, so it has
to be a long way off. I had it stuck in the banister outside my bedroom
door but the landlady went mad.
Another thing, looking ahead, does anyone know a cheap source of curved
railway track, steel girders, big electric motors, and chicken wire?

Bernard Lovell

Beware! Your may find that your foundations will eat up your funds at a
great rate, as you may have to dig far deeper than expected to find
ground firm enough to support your structure.

On the upside, if you're quick, you'll save a fortune on the large
gear-wheels needed to tilt your dish if you nip down to the breakers, as
they've got an old battleship in and the turret training rings will be
ideal.

SteveW

Beware! Your may find that your foundations will eat up your funds at a
great rate, as you may have to dig far deeper than expected to find
ground firm enough to support your structure.

On the upside, if you're quick, you'll save a fortune on the large
gear-wheels needed to tilt your dish if you nip down to the breakers, as
they've got an old battleship in and the turret training rings will be
ideal.

SteveW

Thank you

Bernard

replying to Max Demian, Iggy wrote:
Oh no, this is a new one, silly boy. But, there's lots more and I've been
meaning to get to them...maybe I'll start tonight. Don't worry, many are
answered and I don't know everything. Plus, I run along pretty quick, so it
won't last long.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy...l-1246533-.htm