NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Chasing Shackleton
From: Stan K
Date: 2014 Jan 16, 15:37 -0500
From: Stan K
Date: 2014 Jan 16, 15:37 -0500
Brad,
In one view I thought I saw the side-to-side clamping mechanism, with "buttons", that my Hezzanith has. That, and the three ring frame (which other brands use, though) still leads me to believe it was a more current micrometer drum Heath sextant.
Looking a a photo of Worsley's sextant at http://www.flickr.com/photos/markbrandon/7220573974/, though not at the best angle, it appears to be essentially identical to mine, which is of the right vintage. Mine is in great condition, with all parts. Frank got to try it last summer.
Stan
In one view I thought I saw the side-to-side clamping mechanism, with "buttons", that my Hezzanith has. That, and the three ring frame (which other brands use, though) still leads me to believe it was a more current micrometer drum Heath sextant.
Looking a a photo of Worsley's sextant at http://www.flickr.com/photos/markbrandon/7220573974/, though not at the best angle, it appears to be essentially identical to mine, which is of the right vintage. Mine is in great condition, with all parts. Frank got to try it last summer.
Stan
-----Original Message-----
From: Brad Morris <bradley.r.morris@gmail.com>
To: slk1000 <slk1000@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Jan 16, 2014 2:42 pm
Subject: [NavList] Re: Chasing Shackleton
From: Brad Morris <bradley.r.morris@gmail.com>
To: slk1000 <slk1000@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Jan 16, 2014 2:42 pm
Subject: [NavList] Re: Chasing Shackleton
Hi Stan
They may be using the hezzanith mechanism, but as to the comparison between it and the one Worsley used, there is none.
That sextant had top of the line features, some patented. Some hard to use, like the binoculars that attach to the frame, for that whole horizon view. The sextant in the show appears quite ordinary.
The hezzanith feature refers to the endless tangent screw with automatic clamp. In other words, you could move the index arm about freely with the screw unclamped and then finely adjust with the screw clamped. This is just one of the patented features.
Brad
On Jan 16, 2014 2:18 PM, "Stan K" <slk1000---.com> wrote:
I'm watching Part 2 right now. This time they got the photograph of Worsley going the right way. I take note that they are "cheating". The sextant they are using does appear to be a Hezzanith, but it is a micrometer drum type, not a vernier type.
FWIW, I have a 1905 Hezzanith vernier sextant, and I cannot figure out what continent I am on with it. Micrometer drums sure are easier.
Stan
