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King of the Rocket Men (1949)
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 9:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

True enough, Orzel, except there are no readouts or gauges for the pilot/operator to use. (Unless there was something in the helmet that we haven't seen---Not too likely!)

With no feedback to indicate status to the pilot some functions would likely be automated in some way. Today that would be through microprocessors, but back in the day it may have been of a more mechanical nature built into the rocket pack.

I know a carburetor, for example, is not a "computer" but it does in a crude way function mechanically as present day sensors and chips electronically do to control air/fuel mixtures to an engine.

There would have been some kind of analogue to it to control these functions and would have to be to allow the simplicity of the control panel.

Remember, aircraft in the 40's and 50's had a type of "cruise control" auto-pilots. A version of that may have been miniaturized for the rocket packs.

The ROCKETEER'S rocket pack by contrast seemed to have only one control for ignition and a constant feed to the combustion chamber.





Of course, it's also possible that they just sent away for the plans from the back of some old comic book!

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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 12:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know that's where Bud gets his girls from!

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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 7:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

This is hysterical!

Not only is the concept outrageous, the text of the ad is mind boggling!

"Saucy glittering eyes, full sensuous mouth, and liquid satin complexion . . . and one of the nicest qualities is that they don't talk back!"

" . . . ready to hang on your wall for excitement and conversation.

I get queasy thinking about the kind of oily loser who would buy these things and actually put them up in his home. Shocked

These things are from the same company that advertised the X-Ray specs in the comic books!




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Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sun May 05, 2019 1:01 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 3:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got one of those!

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orzel-w
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bud Brewster wrote:
These things are from the same company that advertised the X-Ray specs in the comic books!

I seriously wanted a pair, but in those days I couldn't manage the $1.25.
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can make your own!

Exactlly like the ones advertised.



Just cut out little eye holes on two pieces of cardboard and cut them to resemble those old 3-D glasses from the comic books.

Then put a piece of a feather (Chicken or fowl du jour!) between the two layers, glue them together and there you go! (Click on the image to see a larger, more readable version.)



From Wikapedia:

X-Ray Specs consist of an outsized pair of glasses with plastic frames and white cardboard "lenses" printed with concentric red circles, and emblazoned with the legend "X-RAY VISION".

The "lenses" consist of two layers of cardboard with a small hole about 6 millimetres (0.24 in) in diameter punched through both layers. The user views objects through the holes.

A feather is embedded between the layers of each lens. The vanes of the feathers are so close together that light is diffracted, causing the user to receive two slightly offset images. For instance, if viewing a pencil, one would see two offset images of the pencil. Where the images overlap, a darker image is obtained, supposedly giving the illusion that one is seeing the graphite embedded within the body of the pencil.

As may be imagined, the illusion is not particularly convincing.

NOT like this!!
!


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Maurice
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 3:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote



That's a fine replica but it's not 100% accurate. How about this one?



Lack of functionality aside, this picture indicates that at least one such control plate was made up of three parts, all of which look like found objects. The top two dials are duplicates, each mounted on a square plate, possibly volume dials from art deco radios. The lower centered dial is from something else entirely as it's not at all styled the same and the plate bearing it might be a different kind of metal (or polished differently). The big dial is kinda interesting because it has 0 at the top and 100 at the bottom, and 10—90 go in both directions. Anyone have a clue what such a dial might go to?

The art deco design around the upper knobs doesn't match the clearly hand painted UP/DOWN ON/OFF type labels, so I doubt they expected anyone to scrutinize this thing.
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Sun May 05, 2019 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very much a real book! You too could be a ROCKETMAN !

"Want to build a rocketbelt?! This long out of print manual contains the most detailed set of rocket belt plans ever put together. It contains the history of rocketbelts, rocketbelt construction plans, blueprints and patents, instructions, photographs, and an opportunity that the author claims can make you $10,000.



FROM THE BACK COVER: "IN THIS BOOK... you are going to discover the real history of the amazing Rocket-Belt device which was developed for Bell Aerosystems back in the early '60s under a contract for the United States Army. But that's only the beginning! This book will go into great detail on various aspects of the device... COMPREHENSIVE CONSTRUCTION PLANS... This book shows you, step by step, how to build your own personal rocket belt!... DOZENS OF DETAILED BLUEPRINTS...



You are given detailed blueprints with precise measurements to aid you in the construction process... RARE ROCKETBELT PHOTOGRAPHS... After months of intensive research we have uncovered many rare, never before seen photographs of the rocket belt in flight. These pictures will amaze you! $10,000 INCOME OPPORTUNITY!... This book tells you about an opportunity to make money with the Rocket Belt that is simply exciting and thrilling."



The manual is plastic ring bound with clear plastic covers. I believe it was self-published by Beushausen, so expect it to have a homemade feel - photos look photocopied, printed on one side of paper only, etc. Although I've classed it as Used it is is in almost mint condition. It has 168 pages excluding patents. ISBN is 0963709704. Published in 1993."

Gotta see one of these!

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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 3:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gord Green wrote:
Of course, it's also possible that they just sent away for the plans from the back of some old comic book!

__________

Well, wonder of wonders! Believe it or not, this comic book ad is legitimate! Shocked

One of the two "Beaushausen Brothers" mentioned in the ad is Derwin M Beushausen, who published a book back in 1993. It's listed on Amazon, but they say it's out of print.

Airwalker: A date with destiny : rocket-belt history and construction plans : exhaustive study manual

The Wikipedia article about the The Bell Rocket Belt (the one we see in Lost in Space) has this to say about Beushausen's book.
_________________________________________

In 1993 a book was published by Derwin M. Beushausen entitled "Airwalker: A Date with Destiny", Rocketbelt History and Construction Plans. This was the first book ever published that went into great detail describing the history of this device and how to actually build it.

In 2000 another book was published by Derwin M. Beushausen entitled "The Amazing Rocketbelt" in which you could find the history and more construction plans for the rocketbelt device.

_________________________________________

And so, Professor Green, your suggestion that Peavy from The Rocketeer could have "just sent away for the plans from the back of some old comic book" would actually be possible . . . if his order for the plans could travel forward in time to the early 1960s when the ad appeared, and then the plans could be delivered back in time to the 1930s when The Rocketeer took place! Very Happy

I consider that to be a sizable chunk of irony, all things considered. A comic book ad that really did allow kids to order plans for a working Personal Jet Pack!

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tmlindsey
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bud Brewster wrote:
Airwalker: A date with destiny : rocket-belt history and construction plans : exhaustive study manual

FYI, dead link.
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