Springfield College alumnus Clayton R. Plummer (class of 1940) drew this diagram of a natograph, a machine invented by Dr. Peter Karpovich. The natograph tested the efficiency of swimming strokes by measuring the progression of a swimmer every one fifth of a second. It consisted of a revolving drum around which a line was fastened and attached to the swimmer’s waist (as seen in the framed diagram) or to a floating tripod over the swimmer, and a revolving contact switch to mark time intervals on a kymograph (a rotating drum holding paper on which a stylus traces a continuous record). As the line was pulled by the swimmer it revolved the drum. For more information on Peter V. Karpovich, see: https://springfield.as.atlas-sys.com/agents/people/571
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