File:American homes and gardens (1912) (17969207588).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar91912newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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November, 1912 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 393
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Types of weather-vanes suitable for country-home out-buildings foster in you a proper spirit of independence. It will also wholesomely stimulate your esteem for the study of that most interesting, honorable, ancient and worthy branch of learning, the weather or, to give it its proper title, meteorology. The word "vane" according to strict historic signification denotes something extended or spread out to the wind as a flag or pennon. A thin plate or slip of metal or wood pivoted out of center on a spindle so as to revolve freely in the wind, turning the heaviest portion away from the point whence the wind blows, is a weather-vane. Likely enough, from its etymological derivation, a flag or pennon was the direct ancestor of the weather-vane which was doubtless made first in that form. We have a survival of this origi- nal type in the dog-vane on shipboard, a cone of bunting the open end of which is stretched about a ring or small hoop attached by a swivel to the masthead. The first weather-vane of which we have any historical record was constructed by the Greek astronomer, Andronicus of Cyrrhus, somewhere about the year 100 B.C. His horologium, the so-called "tower of the winds" at Athens, a portion of which may still be seen, was an octago- nal building with figures representing the eight principal winds carven on each side. On the summit a brazen Triton, with a rod in his hand, turned round by the wind, pointed to the quarter from which it blew. Weather-vanes may be of an almost endless diversity of patterns but the best, very naturally, are those that are simplest and respond most readily to the slightest breath of wind. The practical essentials of a good vane are that it shall be reliable, keep in order and work easily. A weather-vane that doesn't spin is like a clock that doesn't run or an in- veterate liar whom you never can believe. It tells the truth only when the wind happens to be in that particular quarter just like the stand-still clock that is right only twice in the twenty-four hours. Although the scientific requirements of a vane are few it nevertheless keeps excellent scientific com- pany; it is, in fact, a necessary member of the weather man's outfit of polarimeters, hygrometers and heaven only knows how many more imeters and ometers of sundry sorts. Vanes are not hard to make and with an ordinary amount of care and neatness in handling tools, a wind-indicator that will be really accurate and sensitive can be made in the home workshop. In setting the vane on its spindle one must see to it that there is a proper balance and that the greatest overhang comes on the side opposite to that facing the wind. Weather-vanes may be devised of almost any de- sired pattern that the maker has ingenuity to design and skill to execute. The devices may either be shaped from wood of about half an inch in thickness or from a thin sheet of metal. Sometimes, also, a very light framework of wood is covered on both sides with thin metal sheets in order to secure greater stiffness where the design is of an elaborate character. Anyone possessed of a mechanical turn and a fancy to put his conceits in tangible form can find plenty of occupation for odd moments in contriving vanes of a fashion distinctive and appropriate for the places they are meant to occupy. A wind-pennant, such as already referred to for use on shipboard, may easily be made by fastening the mouth of a cone or funnel-shaped piece of silk or cotton around a metal or wooden ring about five inches in diameter. The cone should be from fifteen to twenty inches long and closed at the small end; the most satisfactory material is flag bunting. No form of vane is more sensitive and reliable than these pennants; they respond to the least stirring of air. At the

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