early 20th-century test facility for current meters, aircraft propellers, ships' logs, pitot tubes, and mine-sweeping paravanes

This rotating boom played an important part in the testing and improvement of current meters, aircraft propellers, ships' logs, pitot tubes, and mine-sweeping paravanes. The original boom was designed by Professor Charles M. Allen (1871-1950), the first director of the Alden Research Laboratory.