Sailors, can you ID these? - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/10/2013 05:30:13 PM · #1

...

I just now found these downstairs in their own handmade wooden boxes in a corner.
My sailor, long gone now, came from a family of seafaring folk and I think
these are very, very old. I think one is a ship's telescope, and perhaps
the other is an navigation device. Anybody recognize them?

snaffles

Nikon D7100

06/10/2013 05:32:23 PM · #2

I think I know what the thingy on the stnd is - a chronometer. The other thingy does indeed look like a navigational device, kinda like a tricked-out astrolabe. Other than that, they are gorgeous and should make some great props!

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/10/2013 05:44:25 PM · #3

Air Force here but I will give it a go. The first one appears to be a sextant (for landlubbers that would be a transit used by surveyors). A sextant was used to tell the sailors what their longitude and latitude was in relation to the stars.

The other one does look like telescope.

There should be a data plate that gives the manufacturer/model number, maybe underneath if not anywhere top side.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

06/10/2013 06:01:26 PM · #4

Well, thanks,

kawesttex, and

snaffles. I thought of something like astrolabe, but couldn't remember 'sextant' for the life of me. Yes, I think sextant could well be it.

The manufacturer's name? The only thing I could find (I just went down and looked, carefully) was in beautiful script on the face of the compass and it says:

J W ~~Holures~~ Holmes
Batavia, NY

I Just googled the name but got nothing.

Batavia was my guy's hometown, btw.

Message edited by author 2013-06-10 18:16:51.

cowboy221977

Canon EOS-60D

06/10/2013 06:03:02 PM · #5

I didnt answer in time...that is definately a sextant. Handy little tool

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/10/2013 06:06:32 PM · #6

Turn the base compass and see if the manufacturer is somewhere on the 360 deg plate. It should have the manf markings as these were/are very expensive pieces of optics.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/10/2013 06:19:33 PM · #7

Originally posted by kawesttex:

Turn the base compass and see if the manufacturer is somewhere on the 360 deg plate. It should have the manf markings as these were/are very expensive pieces of optics.

well, I did, and that thing turns like sliding through butter even after all these years. No face plate, but I did look even more carefully at the engraved signature, it probably is:

J W Holmes and not what I thought at first.
It's not some guy's name, it's the manufacturer, engraved in fancy script on that compass.
Oddly enough, there is no id at all on the telescope, that I could find.

snaffles

Nikon D7100

06/10/2013 06:38:04 PM · #8

*facepalm* after reading other's responses...Oh duh I wasn't paying enough attention...ah well...maybe on underside of telescope base for manufacturer's markings?

bohemka

Nikon D700

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

06/10/2013 06:41:29 PM · #9

Six items that have never been in my kitchen.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

06/10/2013 06:43:32 PM · #10

Wow Alice, those are very cool. They are both in great shape; the sextant is stunningly nice! Family heirlooms to be sure.

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/10/2013 06:46:10 PM · #11

Originally posted by sfalice:

Originally posted by kawesttex:
Turn the base compass and see if the manufacturer is somewhere on the 360 deg plate. It should have the manf markings as these were/are very expensive pieces of optics.

well, I did, and that thing turns like sliding through butter even after all these years. No face plate, but I did look even more carefully at the engraved signature, it probably is:

J W Holmes and not what I thought at first.
It's not some guy's name, it's the manufacturer, engraved in fancy script on that compass.
Oddly enough, there is no id at all on the telescope, that I could find.

A quality sextant has to be smooth because some models read down to arc seconds (1 degree = 60 minutes = 360 arc seconds).

06/10/2013 07:10:32 PM · #12

Thanks for all the information - I really appreciate it.
My dad was a machinist by trade (he helped build submarines)
and I recognize good machining when I see it.

Now I have to figure out what to do with this beautiful equipment.

Since I live in a seaport of sorts, guess I better talk to a few museums or
maybe find a ship's captain that wants something elegant.

06/10/2013 08:03:41 PM · #13

Land Surveyor here...

These instruments are used for surveying and mapping, not really for navigation. The first instrument is a Theodolite. It may be a very plain version of the Solar Theodolite, an instrument patented by Holmes in the late 1800's. The solar theodolite uses the position of the sun, along with applying corrections for temperature and time to measure the lines of latitude and longitude along the surface of the earth. The second instrument is called a Wye Level. This was used to transfer elevations to specific points.

Judging by the photos, these are very basic instruments with fairly plain manufacturing. Not very fancy. They appear to have been workhorses, though they look in good working condition. It looks as though there is a lot of wear, especially on the dial of the vertical delineator theodolite and the tube of the wye level. I would say the value at auction would be between $100 - $150 for the level and possibly a little more for the theodolite.

Hope that was informative enough.

Message edited by author 2013-06-10 20:08:53.

06/10/2013 08:37:34 PM · #14

EL-ROI - Thank you! Yes, there were surveyors in my guy's family tree too.
What a grand lead you gave me. Now the research is beginning to give results.
This is getting to be fun. But, oh, how I wish it had been sailors' lore.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

06/10/2013 10:03:16 PM · #15

Glad to help.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

06/10/2013 10:32:49 PM · #16

Originally posted by sfalice:

Thanks for all the information - I really appreciate it.
My dad was a machinist by trade (he helped build submarines)
and I recognize good machining when I see it.

Seriously??!! My dad was a machinist, worked in the Manitowoc shipyards during WWII making parts for... submarines!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/10/2013 10:36:33 PM · #17

Originally posted by sfalice:

Since I live in a seaport of sorts, guess I better talk to a few museums or
maybe find a ship's captain that wants something elegant.

I know for a fact you know how to get to the Maritime Museum ... :-)

I suggest you talk to them and to an auction house to get an idea of dates and value.

06/10/2013 10:39:38 PM · #18

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by sfalice:
Thanks for all the information - I really appreciate it.
My dad was a machinist by trade (he helped build submarines)
and I recognize good machining when I see it.

Seriously??!! My dad was a machinist, worked in the Manitowoc shipyards during WWII making parts for... submarines!

Seriously,

Kirbic. Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT, W W 2. They call it General Dynamics now.

Oh, I'll bet those two could have conversations!

06/10/2013 10:40:44 PM · #19

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by sfalice:
Since I live in a seaport of sorts, guess I better talk to a few museums or
maybe find a ship's captain that wants something elegant.

I know for a fact you know how to get to the Maritime Museum ... :-)

I suggest you talk to them and to an auction house to get an idea of dates and value.

good lead,

GeneralE. LOL, yes, you know I know how to get there, and how to get a parking place right in front.
(HehHeh)

see

Canon PowerShot S95

06/10/2013 10:45:44 PM · #20

It's still called EB by the locals.

06/10/2013 11:37:20 PM · #21

My Brother-In-Law works as an engineer building submarines for Electric Boat in Groton CT.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

06/11/2013 01:03:37 AM · #22

kirbic,

see,

EL-ROI, it's a very, very small world.

Oh, my dad had a story about engineers and machinists. He ended up as a machinist who built
models/parts from blueprint designs by engineers in the experimental department of Pratt Whitney.
And sometimes the engineers made mistakes but blamed the result on the machinists who 'didn't follow instructions.'
(Remember this is just a story).

Well, one day a design came through and as my dad told it, a buddy called the supervisor and said "this won't work,"
to which the supervisor said, "go ahead and machine the thing" (or something like that).

The machinist did, and later brought back a handful of steel chips and gave it to the supervisor. "What
happened?" asked the supervisor. "The I.D. was bigger than the O.D.," said the machinist.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/11/2013 05:54:41 AM · #23

Originally posted by sfalice:

...The machinist did, and later brought back a handful of steel chips and gave it to the supervisor. "What
happened?" asked the supervisor. "The I.D. was bigger than the O.D.," said the machinist.

I was just about to start off for work but will have to wait for a bit now... laughing so hard I have tears in my eyes and can't see.

Thank you for a great start to my day. :O)

Ray