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Well, I was wrong. I double checked my 1962 edition of Bowditch and
found the same information about this device that is in the 1977
edition.

gl

On Nov 14, 5:24�pm, Gary LaPook  wrote:
> I didn't find any mention of it in my blue covered 1962 edition.
> �
> gl
> --- On Fri, 11/14/08, Hewitt Schlereth  wrote:
>
> From: Hewitt Schlereth 
> Subject: [NavList 6552] Re: Can someone identify this
> To: NavList@fer3.com
> Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 4:49 PM
>
> Thank you, Gary.
>
> When I sold my house three years ago, I donated what I could of my nav
> library and (sigh) had to just pitch a lot of it - including my
> collection of every NA from 1965. I have in my mind that a picture of
> the device was in one of my Bowditch's - as I recall it was an edition
> with a dark blue cover, whereas I think the 1977 was medium �green?
> The description in the pages you sent sure fits, though.
>
> Thanks again, �Hewitt
>
> On 11/14/08, Gary LaPook  wrote:
>
>
>
> > Here are the pages from the 1977 Bowditch that concern this device.
>
> > gl
>
> > --- On Fri, 11/14/08, Hewitt Schlereth  wrote:
>
> > From: Hewitt Schlereth 
> > Subject: [NavList 6547] Re: Can someone identify this
> > To: NavList@fer3.com
> > Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 9:55 AM
>
> > I see by the brass plate in one of the photos the instrument was made
> > in Belfontaine Ohio a place near to my heart: I learned to swim at a
> > YMCA there in 1946. So let me add $25 to the fund to purchase this
> > fascinating device.
>
> > BTW and FWIW, the general look of the thing reminds me of a device
> > that appeared in earlier editions of Bowditch (c. 1982?) in their
> > listing of sight reduction methods. As I recall the Bowditch
> > description had a picture of the device which appeared to be made of
> > three white plastic plates that could be set to make a miniature
> > navigational triangle. It looked like you set the two vertical plates
> > to LHA and then aligned a third lateral plate with declination on one
> > of the vertical plates and latitude on the other and read Hc from the
> > lateral plate.
>
> > Hewitt Schlereth
>
> > On 11/14/08, George Huxtable  wrote:
>
> > > Bill Morris, as "Engineer", wrote, about the instrument we
> have
> > been
> > > discussing-
>
> > > =================
>
> > > From: "engineer" 
> > > To: "NavList" 
> > > Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 2:19 AM
> > > Subject: [NavList 6542] Re: Can someone identify this
>
> > > I'm interested in this item too and planned to bid on it. If I
> won
> > the
> > > bidding, I would take it apart, service it and put it together again
> > > in a restored state. Then I would post detailed labelled photographs
> > > for others to see. When tired of it, I would offer it to a museum for
> > > what it cost me. I agree it would be a pity for it to rest in private
> > > hands, undescribed and gathering dust. On the other hand, why should
> > > North America have all the luck? People in out-of-the way places love
> > > instruments too.
>
> > > Bill.
>
> > > ====================
>
> > > Comment from George-
>
> > > Well, if Bill Morris were to succeed in a bid, that would meet most
> of my
> > > own wishes, and I suspect those of several other listmembers, for the
> > future
> > > of this special instrument.
>
> > > It would be rescued from locking away in a hidden private collection;
> in
> > the
> > > end it would end up in a public museum; and in the interim it would
> be
> > > examined for us by a real expert. The only snag is that of Bill's
> > location,
> > > in a particularly isolated corner of New Zealand, which would,
> > > unfortunately, require long-distance transporting of the item, and
> put it
> > > out of range of personal inspection of anyone other than Bill.
>
> > > Perhaps it would help if I pass on some details about Bill Morris,
> who
> > I've
> > > got to know quite well, by email, over recent months. Originally from
> > > Britain, for many years he has been a doctor in rural New Zealand,
> having
> > > retired now to an even more isolated spot, where he indulges in
> precision
> > > engineering, from a well-equipped workshop. Although not a navigator
> > > himself, he has a particular interest is in sextants, and he claims
> to
> > have
> > > restored altogether 28 such instruments of a wide range of types,
> > modern.and
> > > less-modern, not on a profit-making basis but as a hobby.
>
> > > He is presently finishing-off a book (intended for distribution by CD
> > rather
> > > than print) on the "intimate anatomy of the sextant".
> I've
> > come in because
> > > he has asked me to scan it for any obvious errors, so I have been
> > privileged
> > > to see a preview. Looking at the care he devotes to detailed
> explanation
> > and
> > > description, illustrated by well-angled and notated colour photos and
> > > diagrams, I would have no hesitation in entrusting to him this Fix
> Finder
> > > for a careful analysis, and hope that he would share his findings
> with us
> > as
> > > he proceeds, before eventually passing it to a museum.
>
> > > So, if Bill is prepared to act on our behalf, as well as his own, in
> > > bidding, I restate my offer of sharing (to a maximum of $100) in the
> > total
> > > cost, if his bid succeeds, to give him some encouragement. Other
> members
> > > have expressed similar sentiments. The more that join in, the higher
> the
> > > chance of his success, and the less the burden will become on each of
> us.
>
> > > One or two things need to be kept in mind here.
>
> > > There may well be a flurry of last-minute bids and the price may go
> well
> > > above its present $102.50. Indeed, the seller has set a reserve
> price,
> > which
> > > we have no way of knowing, that has not yet been met.
>
> > > Although list members may contribute a "share" in the total
> > cost, that would
> > > not be expected to result in any shared ownership of the item, which
> > would
> > > become the sole property of the bidder. The whole operation would
> have to
> > > work on the basis of gentlemanly trust between all involved.
>
> > > If Bill Morris confirms his intention to bid on that basis, I would
> hope
> > > that other list members might show restraint in any bidding of their
> own.
> > > However, if any list member gets overcome by the lust to possess,
> perhaps
> > he
> > > might inform Bill beforehand, and share his technical findings with
> us
> > > afterwards.
>
> > > George.
>
> > > For those that have yet to look up this item on ebay, it's at-
>
> http://cgi.ebay.ca/ASTRONOMIC-CALCULATOR-SEXTANT-theodolite_W0QQitemZ...
>
>
>
> > > and to see the original 1950 patent, look up Google Patents
> 2,519,532.
>
> > > contact George Huxtable, now at geo...@hux.me.uk
>
> > > or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222)
> > > or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.
>
>
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