Sound mirrors

Listening Vessels at the San Francisco Exploratorium

Andrew Grantham — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:00:30 +0000

Listening Vessels consists of two large parabolic reflectors set at least 50 feet apart which act as mirrors to reflect sound from one to the other. Two people sit opposite each other at approximately the focal point for each reflector, so that the sound coming from each reflector is focused at this point, allowing each visitor to clearly hear the other’s voice, even at a very low decibel in spite of the distance separating the vessels.
Source: The Exploratorium

War Heroes on TV

Andrew Grantham — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:38:57 +0000

It would appear that the “War Heroes” episode of the television programme Great Railway Adventures With Dan Cruickshank featured the Denge sound mirrors.

White rabbit at Denge

Andrew Grantham — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:43:50 +0000

Follow the white rabbit: Today we went to see the Sound Mirrors at Denge…

Zeppelin raids on London

Andrew Grantham — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:00:22 +0000

Zeppelin Airship Attacks On London: Mapped at Londonist.

Modern technology at Maghtab

Andrew Grantham — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:06:27 +0000

Maltese telecoms firm GO has updated the kit at its Maghtab site, by the sound mirror:

In comments, [Prime Minister] Dr Gonzi said the Maghtab headend site was symbolically important because of the sound mirror, a primitive radar built some 70 years ago to detect and amplify the sounds of air and sea vessels nearing Malta.

This is the only sound mirror built outside England but became outdated within three to seven years since being built because it was replaced by radars.

Dr Gonzi said that even nowadays, major investment in technology became outdated quickly and companies needed to continue investing consistently.

GO fully equipped to transmit English and Italian football, Annaliza Borg, The Malta Independent

Denge open day pictures

Andrew Grantham — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:07:14 +0000

Lots of good pictures are appearing on Flickr after the 18 July 2010 open day at the Denge sound mirrors (click to see Richard Fisher’s picture in full):

Feel free you add your photos to the Sound Mirrors Pool.

Detling sound mirror

Andrew Grantham — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:34:48 +0000

Thread at the Kent History Forum.

Hythe sound mirror walk

Andrew Grantham — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:00:04 +0000

As well as the walks to the Denge mirrors, there is one to the Hythe sound mirror this year.

Sunday 4th July 2.00pm
SOUND MIRRORS AT HYTHE

A chance to walk up the steep grassy escarpment to the 30ft Concrete Mirror or Sound Dish on The Roughs at Hythe. One of the Mirrors has fallen down and the other is surrounded by fencing, but the views are wonderful. Donation appreciated.

Full details at the Romney Marsh Countryside Project website.

‘Immovable Objects Secret States’ by John Billan

Andrew Grantham — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:57:31 +0000

Next John is off to England to to photograph the Sound Mirrors around the Kent area (including the truly astounding Denge sound mirrors – click on the photos below to see a larger version) and to do some recording of the sounds they reflect. I am jealous LOL – they are such amazing structures, what a good find. I can only imagine the sounds and photos that John will get.
[More...]

Diamond Geezer at Abbot’s Cliff

Andrew Grantham — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:27:57 +0000

On May 31 Diamond Geezer (who writes a very good London blog) “…found an acoustic sound mirror at Abbott’s Cliff”.

More details of the Abbot’s Cliff sound mirror