NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: C. Plath Bubble Horizon
From: Joel Jacobs
Date: 2008 Jul 04, 16:56 +0000
From: Joel Jacobs
Date: 2008 Jul 04, 16:56 +0000
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your input. You have discribed the difference bewteen the device I have and the earlier one correctly. It is true that the the Navy did use the C. Plath bubble horizon fitted to a sextant as a back-up system on submarines. There is an interesting section in Dutton's Seamanship & Navigation, 12th Edition,
Article 2206, Page 385.
Anyone interested in pictures and a more detailed discription should check http://landandseacollection.com/id487.html It should be marked as sold.
Many thanks,
Joel
--
Visit our website
http://www.landandseacollection.com
Visit our website
http://www.landandseacollection.com
-------------- Original message from Ken Gebhart <GEBHART@CELESTAIRE.COM>: --------------
>
> Joel,
>
> About five years before C. Plath went out of production (say 6 years
> ago?), they came out with a bubble chamber which did not have the
> adjusting mechanism. As I recall, it had an internal battery, and did
> not rely on the batteries in the sextant handle. I also seem to
> recall that the light had no adjustable rheostat either. I asked
> them why they omitted these desirable features. They replied that
> they were made to milspec, and that's what the specs said. They were
> very expensive too, about $1700. I believe this is the unit you have.
>
> Their previous adjustable bubbles were very nice, and dated nearly
> back to WWII. I don't know when they were discontinued.
>
> Ken Gebhart
> On Jun 28, 2008, at 8:09 AM, Joel Jacobs wrote:
>
> > Hello All,
> >
> > Sometime ago I recall a discussion on this list about the Carl
> > Plath bubble horizion. I think some participants own or have had
> > experience with them.
> >
> > I just acquired one, and the only time I can see the bubble and the
> > cross-hairs is when there is power to the unit and the internal
> > illumination is on. In daylight, without power, both are invisible.
> > How would you use this in daylight. It is no 2797 with a DHI date
> > of 2/1/78
> >
> > Also, I've read that the size of the bubble can be adjusted, but
> > can't find any way to do that.
> >
> > Any help on these and other user information will be appreciated.
> >
> > Many thanks,
> >
> > Joel
> > --
> >
> >
> >
> > Visit our website
> > http://www.landandseacollection.com
> >
>
>
> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
> Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc
> To post, email NavList@fer3.com
> To , email NavList-@fer3.com
> -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
>
