Writing Time on the Clouds

[David Morris]

Pynchon would like this:

http://www.kirchersociety.org/blog/?p=1120

Once engaged in the development of a death ray for possible military
use, H. Grindell-Matthews, British inventor, has developed a new gun
for projecting light rays. A motor carriage supports the cannon-like
projector, which is designed to throw signs upon clouds miles away,
and is an improved model of one he demonstrated in New York City not
long ago. By inserting a special clock with a transparent face and
opaque hands and figures in the projector, the correct time is also
thrown on clouds.