100 Years Ago – Eiffel Tower Used as a Weathercock

EIFFEL TOWER USED AS A WEATHERCOCK

This May Prove of Great Value to Aeronauts of the Future

A new use has been discovered for the Eiffel tower, which is quite important, although by no means of an exalted nature.  It is no less than that the falg on top of the tower serves as an admirable weather cock when read in conjunction with the structure itself, which has projections coinciding with the cardinal points of the compass, that facing north being painted red.  Occupants of balloons and airships can therefore, with the aid of field glasses, readily inform themselves of the nature of the wind at an altitude of 30 meters above the ground in that vicinity, and make their arrangements with more certainty in regard to any comtemplated aerial voyage.  –London Globe

The San Francisco Call
San Francisco, California
March 29, 1909