NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Home made level vial observation results & Amundson at the So. Pole
From: Randall Morrow
Date: 2012 Feb 16, 13:49 -0800
I found pictures of an AH for mercury by Keuffel & Esser circa 1838-1908, (example 1) and another US Navy model, (example 2) presumably much later but virtually identical. The differences between this and the AH in the Amundson photos are very apparent in these nearly contemporary pieces.
1) there is a conspicuous lip on the tray giving it depth to retain the liquid.
2) there is no leveling mechanism at all, presumably because is would be superfluous with self-level mercury
3) there is clearly a funnel like adaptation of one corner of the tray to make pouring off the liquid mercury into a vial easier.
4) there is a wind screen attachment, which would have been needed in the scene we see at the pole. (Note the flag whipping and the parkas worn being pushed back against the body in Amundson photo.)
I have never used a mercury AH but in high winds I presume even mercury would be disturbed, as suggested by both of these kits having wind-screens included.
5) they are rectangular rather than square or round
None of these characteristics are seen in the Amundson south pole photograph.
Randall F Morrow PT
Ergonomics Safety Consultant
Chronic Pain Program
Kaiser Permanente - Kern County - Bakersfield
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From: Randall Morrow
Date: 2012 Feb 16, 13:49 -0800
I found pictures of an AH for mercury by Keuffel & Esser circa 1838-1908, (example 1) and another US Navy model, (example 2) presumably much later but virtually identical. The differences between this and the AH in the Amundson photos are very apparent in these nearly contemporary pieces.
1) there is a conspicuous lip on the tray giving it depth to retain the liquid.
2) there is no leveling mechanism at all, presumably because is would be superfluous with self-level mercury
3) there is clearly a funnel like adaptation of one corner of the tray to make pouring off the liquid mercury into a vial easier.
4) there is a wind screen attachment, which would have been needed in the scene we see at the pole. (Note the flag whipping and the parkas worn being pushed back against the body in Amundson photo.)
I have never used a mercury AH but in high winds I presume even mercury would be disturbed, as suggested by both of these kits having wind-screens included.
5) they are rectangular rather than square or round
None of these characteristics are seen in the Amundson south pole photograph.
Randall F Morrow PT
Ergonomics Safety Consultant
Chronic Pain Program
Kaiser Permanente - Kern County - Bakersfield
NOTICE TO RECIPIENT: If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are prohibited from sharing, copying, or otherwise using or disclosing its contents. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete this e-mail and any attachments without reading, forwarding or saving them. Thank you.
File: 118140.ah-example-1.doc
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