Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Metascopes were early infrared imaging devices developed during the Second World War and largely used by the US Navy for signalling, target designation, and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) at night. Based on special phosphors that converted infrared into visible light, they were lighter and more robust than the electronic tube-based IR scopes which saw limited use near the end of the war.
A huge thanks to Josh Beran for sending me this fascinating device!
0:00 Intro
1:09 Infrared Detection Technology 1840-1939
7:34 Introduction to Metascopes
9:53 Development of IR Phosphors
12:11 Type A Metascope
14:17 Type B Metascope: Design and Operation
18:32 Type F Metascope
20:13 Type A1 and AM Metascopes
21:33 Type K and L Metascopes
22:07 Icaroscope
23:00 C1, C2, and C3 Navy IR Tube Scopes
23:41 Army IR Tube Scopes
24:14 Outro
Crystal Radios Video: youtu.be/6HqgWcTnWTk
Heliographs Video: youtu.be/zhFevbuwS88
Stadimeters Video: youtu.be/p1gXNpuFwf4
1946 NDRC Infrared Report: archive.org/details/DTIC_AD0200804/page/n3/mode/2up
SOURCES:
ugca.org/07jan/night.htm#:~:text=Based%20on%20scientific%20experiments%20begun,them%20visible%20in%20a%20telescope.
uscarbinecal30.com/IRmetascopes.html
uscarbinecal30.com/IRM1.html
worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-wwii-united-states-navy-1827586716
spie.org/samples/PM165.pdf
google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjx1Kf64POEAxVICjQIHZHxC08QFnoECBAQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.degruyter.com%2Fdocument%2Fdoi%2F10.2478%2Fs11772-012-0037-7%2Fpdf&usg=AOvVaw2UXyeXnn1BZHN1sr3EXoU8&opi=89978449
Metascopes were early infrared imaging devices developed during the Second World War and largely used by the US Navy for signalling, target designation, and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) at night. Based on special phosphors that converted infrared into visible light, they were lighter and more robust than the electronic tube-based IR scopes which saw limited use near the end of the war.
A huge thanks to Josh Beran for sending me this fascinating device!
0:00 Intro
1:09 Infrared Detection Technology 1840-1939
7:34 Introduction to Metascopes
9:53 Development of IR Phosphors
12:11 Type A Metascope
14:17 Type B Metascope: Design and Operation
18:32 Type F Metascope
20:13 Type A1 and AM Metascopes
21:33 Type K and L Metascopes
22:07 Icaroscope
23:00 C1, C2, and C3 Navy IR Tube Scopes
23:41 Army IR Tube Scopes
24:14 Outro
Crystal Radios Video: youtu.be/6HqgWcTnWTk
Heliographs Video: youtu.be/zhFevbuwS88
Stadimeters Video: youtu.be/p1gXNpuFwf4
1946 NDRC Infrared Report: archive.org/details/DTIC_AD0200804/page/n3/mode/2up
SOURCES:
ugca.org/07jan/night.htm#:~:text=Based%20on%20scientific%20experiments%20begun,them%20visible%20in%20a%20telescope.
uscarbinecal30.com/IRmetascopes.html
uscarbinecal30.com/IRM1.html
worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-wwii-united-states-navy-1827586716
spie.org/samples/PM165.pdf
google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjx1Kf64POEAxVICjQIHZHxC08QFnoECBAQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.degruyter.com%2Fdocument%2Fdoi%2F10.2478%2Fs11772-012-0037-7%2Fpdf&usg=AOvVaw2UXyeXnn1BZHN1sr3EXoU8&opi=89978449
Metascopes were early infrared imaging devices developed during the Second World War and largely used by the US Navy for signalling, target designation, and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) at night. Based on special phosphors that converted infrared into visible light, they were lighter and more robust than the electronic tube-based IR scopes which saw limited use near the end of the war.
A huge thanks to Josh Beran for sending me this fascinating device!
0:00 Intro
1:09 Infrared Detection Technology 1840-1939
7:34 Introduction to Metascopes
9:53 Development of IR Phosphors
12:11 Type A Metascope
14:17 Type B Metascope: Design and Operation
18:32 Type F Metascope
20:13 Type A1 and AM Metascopes
21:33 Type K and L Metascopes
22:07 Icaroscope
23:00 C1, C2, and C3 Navy IR Tube Scopes
23:41 Army IR Tube Scopes
24:14 Outro
Crystal Radios Video: youtu.be/6HqgWcTnWTk
Heliographs Video: youtu.be/zhFevbuwS88
Stadimeters Video: youtu.be/p1gXNpuFwf4
1946 NDRC Infrared Report: archive.org/details/DTIC_AD0200804/page/n3/mode/2up
SOURCES:
ugca.org/07jan/night.htm#:~:text=Based%20on%20scientific%20experiments%20begun,them%20visible%20in%20a%20telescope.
uscarbinecal30.com/IRmetascopes.html
uscarbinecal30.com/IRM1.html
worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-wwii-united-states-navy-1827586716
spie.org/samples/PM165.pdf
google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjx1Kf64POEAxVICjQIHZHxC08QFnoECBAQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.degruyter.com%2Fdocument%2Fdoi%2F10.2478%2Fs11772-012-0037-7%2Fpdf&usg=AOvVaw2UXyeXnn1BZHN1sr3EXoU8&opi=89978449
Metascopes were early infrared imaging devices developed during the Second World War and largely used by the US Navy for signalling, target designation, and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) at night. Based on special phosphors that converted infrared into visible light, they were lighter and more robust than the electronic tube-based IR scopes which saw limited use near the end of the war.
A huge thanks to Josh Beran for sending me this fascinating device!
0:00 Intro
1:09 Infrared Detection Technology 1840-1939
7:34 Introduction to Metascopes
9:53 Development of IR Phosphors
12:11 Type A Metascope
14:17 Type B Metascope: Design and Operation
18:32 Type F Metascope
20:13 Type A1 and AM Metascopes
21:33 Type K and L Metascopes
22:07 Icaroscope
23:00 C1, C2, and C3 Navy IR Tube Scopes
23:41 Army IR Tube Scopes
24:14 Outro
Crystal Radios Video: youtu.be/6HqgWcTnWTk
Heliographs Video: youtu.be/zhFevbuwS88
Stadimeters Video: youtu.be/p1gXNpuFwf4
1946 NDRC Infrared Report: archive.org/details/DTIC_AD0200804/page/n3/mode/2up
SOURCES:
ugca.org/07jan/night.htm#:~:text=Based%20on%20scientific%20experiments%20begun,them%20visible%20in%20a%20telescope.
uscarbinecal30.com/IRmetascopes.html
uscarbinecal30.com/IRM1.html
worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-wwii-united-states-navy-1827586716
spie.org/samples/PM165.pdf
google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjx1Kf64POEAxVICjQIHZHxC08QFnoECBAQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.degruyter.com%2Fdocument%2Fdoi%2F10.2478%2Fs11772-012-0037-7%2Fpdf&usg=AOvVaw2UXyeXnn1BZHN1sr3EXoU8&opi=89978449
