Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?

[Ric Gillespie]

Thanks again to Jim Thompson:

Here's the ad for Brandis #936
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Antique-US-Navy-SEXTANT-Brandis-Sons-w-Wooden-Box-936-missing-pieces/391909847255?hash=item5b3fa5b0d7:g:jCgAAOSwLJ9Z6M9Q

Here's another Brandis, but with no numbers anywhere. ???   Curiouser and curiouser.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/American-sextant-in-case-Brandis-Sons-Brooklyn-N-Y-missing-lens-early-20-C/263205325195?hash=item3d4842898b:g:8VgAAOSwNm5ZuZF7

[Ric Gillespie]

Here's another Brandis, but with no numbers anywhere. ???   Curiouser and curiouser.

Jim Thompson says he can see Maker's Number 5965 on the arc and speculates that the box may have been refinished.

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

There is something wrong here. The photos do not lie. The seller must be looking at a different sextant and box.

This is what the seller says:

This item is an Antique 1919 Brandis & Sons U.S. NAVY Maritime Sextant with Case coming from a local estate in very good condition. You will receive all of the shown items...some use wear on pieces...

WOOD CASE...labeled Brandis & Sons of Brooklyn NY...Certificate Of Inspection dated Jan. 30 1919...Model 4798 (also marked on case)...key lock & 2 hook eyes...bottom has use scratching.

SEXTANT...arc marked U.S. NAVY 2607, also 4836( graduated from 0-180).



He doesn't know as much as we do about sextants and sextant boxes.   8)

[Ric Gillespie]

He doesn't know as much as we do about sextants and sextant boxes.

Not many people do. It's one of the many subjects with which we've had to become familiar.

[Andrew M McKenna]

Brandis that showed up last week on eBay - Marty you already put this one in the table, but I wanted to document it here.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1917-WWI-Brandis-Sons-US-Navy-Surveying-Sextant-with-Box-Case-/173126547032

Seller's response to my query about any numbers

"The number on the arch is 4129. The blue stamped number is 4483. Sincerely, Blue Crab Antiques"

I believe that the "blue stamped" 4483 is the faintly visible stenciled number near the right hinge.

so it would look like we have

Brandis 4129
Navy 1530

In box for Brandis 4483
No Navy number
Odd that the box has a USNO calibration certificate, but no Navy number indicated on that cert.

Ric pointed out the following

Brandis 4129 is 629 sextants later then Brandis 3500.
Navy 1530 is only 12 sextants earlier than Navy 1542.

With thanks to Jim Thompson for his sharp eyes.

amck

[Andrew M McKenna]

Another Brandis showed up on Ebay yesterday

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273240849230?ul_noapp=true&autorefresh=true

Based upon the Brandis sticker inside the lid, the instrument is an Octant #2679 delivered 1/19/1911.  No Navy sticker.

I could be wrong, but this seems like the first time we've seen a Brandis Sticker like this inside the box lid.

I've asked the seller if there is a number on the instrument or elsewhere on the box.

Andrew

[Andrew M McKenna]

Marty

By the way, in the Ameliapedia table, Brandis #5375 is listed twice for some reason, and also listed as "Yes" for Bubble, which if you look at the photos in the link, it is clearly not a bubble instrument. 

Best

Andrew

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Brandis #5375 is listed twice for some reason, and also listed as "Yes" for Bubble, which if you look at the photos in the link, it is clearly not a bubble instrument. 

Fixed.

"Stuff happens."

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273240849230?ul_noapp=true&autorefresh=true

Octant #2679 delivered 1/19/1911.  No Navy sticker.

OK.  I put it in the table. 

[Greg Daspit]

Another Brandis showed up on Ebay yesterday

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273240849230?ul_noapp=true&autorefresh=true

Based upon the Brandis sticker inside the lid, the instrument is an Octant #2679 delivered 1/19/1911.  No Navy sticker.

I could be wrong, but this seems like the first time we've seen a Brandis Sticker like this inside the box lid.

I've asked the seller if there is a number on the instrument or elsewhere on the box.

Andrew

Another interesting thing about his one is it has actual dovetail joints. Only the second one like it I have seen.
From
https://tighar.org/wiki/Sextant_box_found_on_Nikumaroro
"Note to file 4439-40 (40). MacDonald to Vaskess (passed along to Sir Harry)
The Secretary
Mnt (39), para. 2, I have spoken to Captain Nasmyth who replied as follows:- "As the sextant box has no distinguishing marks, & since it was discovered that no sextant had been found, all I have been able to find out is that the make of the box – that is – the dovetailing of the corners – makes it appear to be of French origin."

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273240849230?ul_noapp=true&autorefresh=true

Another interesting thing about his one is it has actual dovetail joints. Only the second one like it I have seen.

I've added that comment to the record for the sextant.  The joints are very strikingly different from the "finger joints" on other Brandis boxes.  Good eyes!

[Ric Gillespie]

Courtesy of Jim Thompson, this one showed up on eBay today.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/173540915739?ul_noapp=true

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Courtesy of Jim Thompson, this one showed up on eBay today.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/173540915739?ul_noapp=true

I moved your post to this thread for future reference.

I see NO 2659 inscribed on the arc.

And Brandis maker's number 4919 on the certificate of inspection.

18 February 1919.

1919-02-18 for alphabetization.

I don't see any numbers on the box.

I can't see 4919--or any other Brandis number--on the arc.

I'll put it in the table as 2659 / 4919 but with the note that the 4919 has not been verified.  We have an awful lot of sextants that have ended up in different boxes, so if it's not written in brass, there is room for doubt.

[Ric Gillespie]

Thanks Marty.

[Jeff Lange]

"..so if it's not written in brass, there is room for doubt."

I think this could be a new mantra!