Maritime Instrument Identification

[Capt_Scarlet]

A friend of mine has an as yet unidentified maritime instrument:

Housed in a wooden case about 1 foot square, it consists of a gimballed moveable dial with an accurate engraved compass scale. On one side of the case it has marked "ships heading", and instead of a compass needle, it has a rotating sighting arrangement which levers up to give a small aperture on one side, a long slotted piece on the other side with a wire in the slot, and a small mirror hinged at the base of this slotted piece.

What exactly was it for, how was it used, and does it have any value?

I don't think the Austute had one.

Thank you.

 

[sarabande]

perhaps it's the bit that fits on top of a standard compass to give a bearing ?

If so, it's bearing plate with an azimuth mirror.


Piccy will tell

 

[prr]

Guess...used as an aid to calculate compass error (deviation) when having the compass swung?

 

[iantitanic]

Pelorus

Hi there it sounds like a pelorus usually used to take bearings relative to ships head to calculate compass error, position or risk of collision there should be brackets to house it usually in positions which a bearing from compass is not posible, its a bit of an old fashion gyro repeater. it is a usefull piece of equipe but you need one person to read compass heading simultaneous to peloros bearing bein taken.

 

[lenseman]

As others above have stated, it is almost certainly a Pelorus:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelorus_(instrument)

Is it for sale?

 

[Bilgediver]

As others above have stated, it is almost certainly a Pelorus:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelorus_(instrument)

Is it for sale?

David...It is no good on its own.....If you are going to get one to clutter your room with a view then you need a Browns Bridge Wing Gyro repeater too....And if you want an old Atlanta for nostalgia well there is always these guys who collect goodies from the beaches of India

http://www.inverlane.com/