NavList:

Noell Wilson you wrote:  I was considering some dummy battery holders that would accept AA batteries instead of C type.  The C and AA batteries are the same length.

A new Rayovac alkaline battery won't allow my A-12 bubble illumination assembly to be installed in the sextant and won't fit at all into the scale illumination assembly when using the fiberglass looking sleeve provided.

I figure two of your broomstick dummies with a loose fit and a AA battery size hole through the center will solve several problems.

Noell
I’m not sure what you mean.  I have no trouble with Duracell C batteries, which are available from eBay.  Perhaps Rayovac batteries are slightly wider.  I don’t see how you can get away from metal for the battery holder without going to a lot of trouble, because the metal forms part of the current path. 

I don’t think the ‘light tube’ for the Vernier illuminator is very satisfactory although we must accept that it was probably designed for younger eyes than our own.  There are some excellent red ‘square patch’ led torches on the market running on only one AA battery.   They work well with my A12 although I could do with a third hand.  I think my next mod will be to incorporate a red surface mounted led into a small magnifying glass.  You can also shine one down the daylight hole at night.  In fact, they’re so bright that just shining a torch it up the battery hole is probably too much.  You’d need to experiment with stuck-on appertures and wrapping paper shim.  DaveP