Capt_Scarlet
New member
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.
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.