Ball recording sextant Mk 1
Mergenthaler Linotype Ball recording sextant Mk 1 Mod 0
Obtained from the US
Product details: Ball recording sextant Mk 1 | Mergenthaler Linotype | Quadrant & Astrolabe | Navigation |
The idea behind this instrument was taking the altitude of stars (or the sun) without having to see the horizon. Although called a sextant it is actually a quadrant as it uses the same idea. The instrument keeps itself (almost) vertical once unlatched. By keeping the object in the cross hairs and releasing a metal ball from the top to the bottom the metal ball will fall with gravity. When all the 9 balls have fallen they create a pattern at the bottom of the instrument. With this pattern the average angle can be determined using the micrometer.
The instrument came with a 'day' tube and a 'night' tube. The night tube is no longer in my posession as it was found to contain radium paint. Radium paint is highly radioactive and is illegal to have in Europe in general and the Netherlands in particular. As a result the night tube was surrendered to the authorities and has been properly disposed of leaving me with the day tube only. The one tube is enough to demonstrate the rather awkward use of this instrument which was, as far as I know, was the first and last experiment of its kind.
More information / other collections:
ball recording sextant
Data sheet
- Year
- 1944
- Serialnumber
- 5251
- Type of use
- Navigation
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Mergenthaler Linotype Ball recording sextant Mk 1 Mod 0
Obtained from the US
Product details: Ball recording sextant Mk 1 | Mergenthaler Linotype | Quadrant & Astrolabe | Navigation |