Can you add to the list of sextant numbers?

Daniel Paul Cotts · July 19, 2011, 08:40:34 PM

New eBay listing for a Brandis box only:
Brandis Box
From the listing: "Here I have a very nice Brandis - U.S. Navy Sextant Mahogany Box. Information on the label is U.S. Navel Observatory, Washington, D.C. Collimation Certificate. Date Mar-7-1946. Sextant no. 2919. Type, Survey. Maker Brandis No. Mfg. #2919. Looks like it was signed by G.E. Jasper, Lt. U.S.N. There is a tag on the front with the number 248- U.S. Navy - 109706. It is missing the hooks to hold it closed. No key. The box is 9-7/8" x 9-7/8" x 5-1/2"."

I sent a message to the seller asking if there are any numbers in the hinge area.

Martin X. Moleski, SJ · July 20, 2011, 06:44:58 AM

Quote from: Daniel Paul Cotts on July 19, 2011, 08:40:34 PM
New eBay listing for a Brandis box only:
Brandis Box
From the listing: "Here I have a very nice Brandis - U.S. Navy Sextant Mahogany Box. Information on the label is U.S. Navel Observatory, Washington, D.C. Collimation Certificate. Date Mar-7-1946. Sextant no. 2919. Type, Survey. Maker Brandis No. Mfg. #2919. Looks like it was signed by G.E. Jasper, Lt. U.S.N. There is a tag on the front with the number 248- U.S. Navy - 109706. It is missing the hooks to hold it closed. No key. The box is 9-7/8" x 9-7/8" x 5-1/2"."

I sent a message to the seller asking if there are any numbers in the hinge area.

Thanks, Daniel.

I've added it to the table.

It is strange that the Maker Number and the Naval Observatory Number are the same. I wonder whether the clerk made a transcription error.

Daniel Paul Cotts · July 20, 2011, 10:51:58 AM

I asked the seller if there were any numbers printed in the hinge area. His reply was: "To the right hand side of the right hinge when opened the number 2919 is inscribed twice on the edge of the top and again on the base. Above the hinge stamped in ink is the number 5310. In two areas it is stamped on the inside cover in ink Brandis & Sons Inc. 754-758 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York."

I will leave it to others more experienced in this area to decide which number might be the Brandis number and which might be the NO number.

Martin X. Moleski, SJ · July 20, 2011, 11:03:33 AM

Quote from: Daniel Paul Cotts on July 20, 2011, 10:51:58 AM
I asked the seller if there were any numbers printed in the hinge area. His reply was: "To the right hand side of the right hinge when opened the number 2919 is inscribed twice on the edge of the top and again on the base. Above the hinge stamped in ink is the number 5310. In two areas it is stamped on the inside cover in ink Brandis & Sons Inc. 754-758 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York."

I will leave it to others more experienced in this area to decide which number might be the Brandis number and which might be the NO number.

Using this as an analogue, I'm going to guess that the NO number is 2919 and that the maker's number is 5310. I'll footnote the guess.

Daniel Paul Cotts · July 20, 2011, 08:53:20 PM

Already in the TIGHAR files, Brandis #3444, US Navy-N-1461 has been re-listed on eBay just in case anyone wants to own it. Note box is from another sextant manufacturer.
Brandis 3444

Mark Petersen · August 30, 2011, 02:41:29 PM

How about #5675 and some of the other Smithsonian owned Brandis sextants that are mentioned in this link:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/navigation/maker.cfm?makerid=35

Martin X. Moleski, SJ · August 30, 2011, 06:24:23 PM

Quote from: Mark Petersen on August 30, 2011, 02:41:29 PM
How about #5675 and some of the other Smithsonian owned Brandis sextants that are mentioned in this link:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/navigation/maker.cfm?makerid=35

We have all the sextants from that list that have Naval Observatory numbers on them, I believe.

Mark Petersen · August 31, 2011, 01:54:52 PM

Quote from: Martin X. Moleski, SJ on August 30, 2011, 06:24:23 PM
Quote from: Mark Petersen on August 30, 2011, 02:41:29 PM
How about #5675 and some of the other Smithsonian owned Brandis sextants that are mentioned in this link:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/navigation/maker.cfm?makerid=35

We have all the sextants from that list that have Naval Observatory numbers on them, I believe.

Good to know, thanks.

Andrew M McKenna · October 15, 2011, 01:15:20 AM

Here is a sextant that shows that by 1941 the Navy numbering system had been institutionalized from the hand etched numbers we see on the earlier Brandis sextant to a stamped and painted number complete with the symbol N inside a circle, the number, and the year. This instrument is Navy #9746, and the box is Has Navy #13692

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260866658773&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123#ht_600wt_1328

This sextant was apparently used on the USS Hector AR-7, a repair ship that was launched at the end of 1942, and commissioned in April of 1944 and has a distinguished WWII history.

http://www.usshector.com/shipslog.html

I find it interesting that a sextant with a 1941 Navy number was issued to a ship that wasn't launched until late '42 and commissioned in '44. I guess the Navy was buying sextants well in advance.

Andrew

Daniel Paul Cotts · November 17, 2011, 08:56:58 AM

New eBay listing for Brandis NO number 1889. I've sent an e-mail requesting the seller to supply any additional numbers - either on the sextant or the box.
New Brandis

Daniel Paul Cotts · November 17, 2011, 09:28:43 AM

Seller replied Brandis number is 4672. No numbers or any information on the box.
NO number is 1889.

Bruce Thomas · November 17, 2011, 10:54:15 AM

Quote from: Daniel Paul Cotts on November 17, 2011, 09:28:43 AM
Seller replied Brandis number is 4672. No numbers or any information on the box.
NO number is 1889.

Thanks for the info. The table in Ameliapedia has been updated.

Bruce Thomas · November 17, 2011, 04:31:39 PM

Quote from: Andrew M McKenna on October 15, 2011, 01:15:20 AM
Here is a sextant that shows that by 1941 the Navy numbering system had been institutionalized from the hand etched numbers we see on the earlier Brandis sextant to a stamped and painted number complete with the symbol N inside a circle, the number, and the year. This instrument is Navy #9746, and the box is Has Navy #13692

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260866658773&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123#ht_600wt_1328

This sextant was apparently used on the USS Hector AR-7, a repair ship that was launched at the end of 1942, and commissioned in April of 1944 and has a distinguished WWII history.

http://www.usshector.com/shipslog.html

I find it interesting that a sextant with a 1941 Navy number was issued to a ship that wasn't launched until late '42 and commissioned in '44. I guess the Navy was buying sextants well in advance.

Andrew

Thanks for the info. The table in Ameliapedia has been updated.

Daniel Paul Cotts · November 22, 2011, 08:00:44 AM

One more on eBay. Questions sent to seller regarding numbers and box. Certificate in box states Brandis number as 3320 and NO number as 4799. Seller states NO number is 4794. Certificate looks hand made. Box does not look like other Brandis boxes. BTW starting bid is 99 cents. There is a reserve.
Brandis Sextant

Bruce Thomas · November 22, 2011, 11:18:30 AM

Quote from: Daniel Paul Cotts on November 22, 2011, 08:00:44 AM
One more on eBay. Questions sent to seller regarding numbers and box. Certificate in box states Brandis number as 3320 and NO number as 4799. Seller states NO number is 4794. Certificate looks hand made. Box does not look like other Brandis boxes. BTW starting bid is 99 cents. There is a reserve.
Brandis Sextant

Thanks for the info. The table in Ameliapedia has been updated.