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Author Topic: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?  (Read 551260 times)

Martin X. Moleski, SJ

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #15 on: November 04, 2010, 09:32:41 PM »

There's another Brandis sextant on eBay - item# 250718198372
The only number seen in the photos is 916 stenciled on the box.
I'm hoping someone knows enough about sextants so that they can contact the seller and direct them where to look to find the numbers on the instrument. Location is Brooksville, FL.

Here is a direct link to the item.

It does look old.  It's got 916 on the box.  It doesn't seem to have the blue Brandis numbers in the corners.  It may never have been a Navy sextant but part of some merchant service, of course.

If you study the text and photos on the Sextant Box page, you should be able to figure out what we need: engraving on the brass pieces, stenciled or engraved numbers on the boxes, and inspection certificates.
LTM,

           Marty
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« Last Edit: November 04, 2010, 09:39:00 PM by moleski »
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Daniel Paul Cotts

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #16 on: November 05, 2010, 09:32:33 PM »

Yet another Brandis sextant on eBay. Item# 260687912625 It's a beauty.
No numbers are given in the posting; but some can be surmised from the photos. Again this requires asking the seller for more data. I may be free to do so in a few days. If anyone else wants to volunteer - feel free to do so.
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Daniel Paul Cotts

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #17 on: November 05, 2010, 10:43:46 PM »

I sent messages asking for numbers to the two sellers on eBay noted above.
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Andrew M McKenna

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #18 on: November 06, 2010, 10:58:39 AM »

Look near the hinge in the photos

Stamped into the box is 4901 or 4001, and written in pencil is Ser 1914 (I think?)

That doesn't mean that the sextant has the same numbers, but the box numbers fit the pattern

would be good to verify the numbers on the box as well as those on the instrument itself.

amck
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Andrew M McKenna

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #19 on: November 06, 2010, 11:03:25 AM »

FYI - I sent the seller a question re numbers.

amck
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Martin X. Moleski, SJ

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #20 on: November 06, 2010, 11:05:57 AM »

Yet another Brandis sextant on eBay. Item# 260687912625 It's a beauty.

No numbers are given in the posting; but some can be surmised from the photos.

Direct link to item 1289014353.

There are lots of numbers in the photo.  Looks like Brandis 4001 on the box (to my eye) and two Navy numbers: 61071 and 000065.

Of course, we know that there are lots of discrepancies between the numbers on the box and the numbers of the instruments inside them ...
LTM,

           Marty
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Andrew M McKenna

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #21 on: November 06, 2010, 11:14:00 AM »

Did we log this one too?

Ebay 350401896246
Brandis 2734
Navy 362
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Daniel Paul Cotts

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #22 on: November 06, 2010, 01:32:13 PM »

Andrew, Yes, Brandis 2734 is on the list. Look at page one of this message thread plus
http://tighar.org/wiki/Sextant_box_found_on_Nikumaroro.

Number 2734 first appeared on eBay a month ago. I guess nobody is interested at the asking price - so they keep re-listing it.
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Daniel Paul Cotts

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #23 on: November 06, 2010, 01:52:30 PM »

Folks, At the moment there are three Brandis sextants on eBay. On 2734 we already have the data. On another, Item# 260687912625, both Andrew and I have made inquiries to the seller about numbers. We are awaiting a reply.

I have just heard back from the third seller - item#250718198372. She states ...
"After about an hour of cleaning & searching, this is what I've been able to come up with: Inside the box, by the right hinge, all I can make out is the #4. On the sextant itself.....towards one end of the arc is the #3702. At the other end I can make out fragments of the USNO, but I'm pretty sure the rest of the #s have worn away.On the outside of the box the # 916 has been stenciled on. On the inside, on the front hinge, is the #121. I sure hope this helps you! Alice (PS...thanx so much for all the help!)"
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Martin X. Moleski, SJ

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #24 on: November 06, 2010, 07:41:22 PM »

Folks, At the moment there are three Brandis sextants on eBay. On 2734 we already have the data. On another, Item# 260687912625, both Andrew and I have made inquiries to the seller about numbers. We are awaiting a reply.

I have just heard back from the third seller - item#250718198372. She states ...
"After about an hour of cleaning & searching, this is what I've been able to come up with: Inside the box, by the right hinge, all I can make out is the #4. On the sextant itself.....towards one end of the arc is the #3702. At the other end I can make out fragments of the USNO, but I'm pretty sure the rest of the #s have worn away.On the outside of the box the # 916 has been stenciled on. On the inside, on the front hinge, is the #121. I sure hope this helps you! Alice (PS...thanx so much for all the help!)"

I do not know how to sort all that out.

#3702 sounds like a Brandis number.  But we need the USNO number on the instrument to make it really valuable to us.

The box numbers seem not to match the sextant number--4, 916, and 121.
LTM,

           Marty
           TIGHAR #2359A
 
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Andrew M McKenna

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #25 on: November 08, 2010, 09:43:06 AM »

Three of us asked the same questions about serial numbers for this Brandis item #260687912625  on ebay

<<
Hi inside box edge says ser 1914 4001, arch center usnavy n with circle 1914 and on edge of arch 4345 Thanks!
>>

So it looks like Brandis 4345, USN 1914, although the box may have originally been for Brandis 4001.  Note that the Ser 1914 is hand written on the box, and I think was probably added later when instrument #1914 was placed in box 4001.

In any case, I think we can add
Brandis 4345, USN 1914
Brandis 4001, box only

There are a bunch of other numbers on the box as described in the seller's answer to Dan and Jim.

<<
   Hi Dan the paper is missing, the metal tag is in the box and says usn property 61071 something something 0065 then in bottom of box written is 61071 000065 center of box opening ser 1914 4001 then says usnavy n in circle 1914 on arch and 4345 towards outside of arch. Thanks! Mike
>>

but I don't think those extra numbers help us much.

amck
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Martin X. Moleski, SJ

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #26 on: November 08, 2010, 11:06:51 AM »

So it looks like Brandis 4345, USN 1914, although the box may have originally been for Brandis 4001.  Note that the Ser 1914 is hand written on the box, and I think was probably added later when instrument #1914 was placed in box 4001.

In any case, I think we can add

Brandis 4345, USN 1914
Brandis 4001, box only

There are a bunch of other numbers on the box as described in the seller's answer to Dan and Jim.

I've added 4345/USN 1914 to the wiki table.

Your guess makes good sense of the information we have about the box.
LTM,

           Marty
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Walter Runck

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #27 on: January 25, 2011, 08:45:05 PM »

Quote
My own cost-benefit analysis says "not worth it."  What we really want is the mother-lode: the Naval Observatory's master list.
Marty, can you say whether the Naval Observatory has already been approached about that list or not?

Here is the contact list (so far):
  • Dr. Archinal, formerly with the NO, now with the USGS regarding the historical instruments at the NO. Andrew McKenna wrote to him twice, but never got a reply.
  • Dr. Rafferty, mentioned in Archinal's work, said: "Contact Dr. Dick, former NO historian, now Chief Historian with NASA."
  • Dr. Panossian, mentioned in Archinal's work
  • Dr. Dick, former NO historian, now Chief Historian with NASA.  McKenna: "Dr. Dick wrote back that the instruments division was moved to the Norfolk Naval Yards in 1950 or so, and that I should contact Goeff Chester, the USNO Public Affairs Officer."
  • Carolyn Moore Mueller, Public Affairs Specialist/Editor, Norfolk Naval Shipyard; worked for Goeff Chester, US Naval Observatory Public Affairs Officer. Recommended looking at http://www.history.navy.mil/]Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) and at Norfolk Naval Shipyard Museum.

We haven't followed up on the two suggestions made in the last item on the list.  A TIGHAR member did have some contact with the NHCC in April, 2009, but missed being introduced to the curator. 

Let's not all call them all at once.  We have 288 people registered in the Forum and a variety of guests who visit anonymously.  But it would be splendid if we could get one person to take the lead on this and figure out whether the master list still exists somewhere.  Then we could see whether there is an entry for a sextant with maker number 3500 and Naval Observatory number 1542.

Hi Marty, first time poster here.  Has the search for the Naval Observatory records advanced any since your post of 7/21/10?  If no one is pursuing this, I have some ideas and would like to take a stab at it. 

Thanks,
Walter


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Andrew M McKenna

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #28 on: January 25, 2011, 08:49:55 PM »

As far as I know, the search for the Naval Observatory archives has not advanced much if any since July.  Forge ahead!

Andrew
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Martin X. Moleski, SJ

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Re: Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?
« Reply #29 on: January 25, 2011, 08:55:30 PM »

Quote
Hi Marty, first time poster here.  Has the search for the Naval Observatory records advanced any since your post of 7/21/10?  If no one is pursuing this, I have some ideas and would like to take a stab at it. 

Hi, Walter--welcome!

I haven't heard of anyone taking up the challenge.  Anything you can do would be much appreciated--even if it is just listing what you have tried that hasn't worked.
LTM,

           Marty
           TIGHAR #2359A
 
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