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KEARFOTT COMPANY, INC., LITTLE FALLS, NJ
A SUBSIDIARY OF GENERAL PRECISION EQUIPMENT COMPANY This computer was manufactured in the mid 1950s. |
INTRODUCTION Since the advent of Sports Car Rallying in America, more and more people have become actively interested in this fascinating hobby. Although the imported small cars have provided the impetus for the sport, many a standard American car is furnishing its owner with a new medium of enjoyment. As a result, Rallying has become an ideal companion (boy-girl, husband-wife) sport and growing practice and familiarisation in this field has led to the development of many skilful driver-navigator teams. However, the mathematical burden placed upon the companion navigator (armed with slide rules, calculating tables, stop watches and, perhaps, even a comptometer) has led to the growing conviction that there must be an easier way to solve the many intricate Time-Distance-Speed calculations which form an essential part of Rallying. They are right. |
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Kearfott engineering has developed a unique device called the Kearfott Precision Rally Computer, which has solved many of the navigator's problems. This unit has been used successfully for several years and its inventor, Jim Helen, has perfected a system of rally navigation, which avoids most of the pitfalls of leg-to-leg type navigation. In addition, practically no knowledge of mathematics is required of the user.
Several other devices of a similar nature are now available to the rallyists. However, none of these other instruments provide the precision calculating capabilities that are inherent in the Kearfott Rally Computer, and in certain circumstances they create problems which are more difficult to cope with than the simple problem they are designed to solve.
THE HELEN SYSTEM OF NAVIGATION |
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DESCRIPTION The Kearfott Precision Rally Computer
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INSTALLATION
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS At the Start:
On the Starting Line:
We now have an opportunity to run a TSD check. A look at our stop watch tells us we are in our second minute, three minutes coming up.
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This means that 15.0 miles from the start we will come to a Tee intersection and at that point we are to change our average speed to 26.78 MPH and then continue at this new rate until further instructions are given. The new average speed can be put into the computer at any convenient time and it is not necessary to stop your car, reset your watch or reset your odometer.
To Set in New Average Speed:
Time Out:
Using Computer on "Time of Day":
Official starting time, Car #0 = 10:00 A.M. Do the following:
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This procedure allows you to use one good time piece for your TSD reference which is running Time of Day so that you can also quickly verify your arrival time at control points, by referring to the same watch.
"Zeroing Out" the Computer:
VI. CALIBRATION
You can repeat this procedure for every 5 miles per hour or even of each 1 mile per hour, depending on how fussy and accurate you want to be. This routine will enable you to eliminate even the very slight inherent errors in the Kearfott Rally Computer. Your correction factors can then be tabulated on a small card and mounted in your car for ready reference. Using Correction Factors: Let us say that during a rally you are required to use an average speed of 44.98 miles per hour. Your correction factor card shows the factor for 45 M.P.H. to be - .06 M.P.H.
![]() IMPORTANT NOTICE Please remove both elastic bands from the chains of your computer before operating same. The small slack in the chains is essential to the proper operation of your computer. KEARFOTT COMPANY, INC., Do's and Don'ts for Users In the interest of enabling you to obtain the best results from your Kearfott Precision Rally Computer, we will issue bulletins from time to time which will cover items relating to the use or care of your Computer. DO LIST
GENERAL With reasonable care your Kearfott Precision Rally Computer should give years of reliable service. Although it is a precise instrument, its design is rugged and successful prototypes have been in use for over three years. |