Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2013 March 30

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March 30

Tatlin-Letatlin

Does anyone happen to know what type of aircraft was Vladimir Tatlin's "Letatlin"? Was it a type of ornithopter, or was it something else? 24.23.196.85 (talk) 06:27, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

It was indeed an ornithopter - This article has a photograph of it. Tevildo (talk) 09:47, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

Type of window style?

I'm looking for the name of a type of window style that can be seen in the British murder-mystery-comedy Murder by Death, for example—though I could not find examples online. The large mansion has windows that have criss-crossing wrought iron, and the windows themselves may be "wavy" (more translucent). I thought I've seen them in Thomas Kinkade paintings too, but can't find any there. Any ideas what these window style may be called? – Kerαunoςcopia^◁_galaxies 17:09, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

I've not seen Murder by Death, but I have an idea what you may mean. Is the glazing itself criss-crossed by diagonal metal strips? If so, then they are probably not wrought iron, but rather lead - these are leaded lights, and the waviness is due in part to the gradual deformation of the soft metal with time. AlexTiefling (talk) 17:21, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

That's exactly it, thank you so much. – Kerαunoςcopia^◁_galaxies 17:39, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

Before the end of the 19th century, the glass itself was sometimes wavy because of the manufacturing technique, such as Crown glass. Alansplodge (talk) 17:44, 30 March 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for adding that. I wasn't sure if Alex was referring to the glass or the lead cames being wavy, and if it had to do with lead being in the glass. – Kerαunoςcopia^◁_galaxies 05:55, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Alex's point was that really old windows like this are rarely flat any more, because the lead has sagged a bit over time. My point was that hand blown glass sometimes lacks the clarity of modern glass. The really good clear glass was more expensive and used in high-status buildings, while the wavy wobbly bits were cheaper. Modern restorers often prefer these because they look old. Alansplodge (talk) 20:05, 31 March 2013 (UTC)