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Re: beginner
From: Willem Piccer
Date: 2005 Oct 2, 12:36 +0200
From: Willem Piccer
Date: 2005 Oct 2, 12:36 +0200
Just as an input for this discussion: I took my boxsextant to the beach to see if it was of any use and within no time I knew it is useless Willem Piccer ----- Original Message ----- From: "george huxtable"To: Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 1:37 AM Subject: Re: beginner > At 15:06 16/09/2005, Fred Hebard replied to a question from Willem Piccer > about box sextants: > >Willem, > > > >My understanding is that the replicas are not accurate and are not > >suitable for any sort of measurement whatsoever. > > > >The box sextant was an angle-measuring device used by explorers on > >land. It was used as one might use a transit or theodolite, where it > >was impractical to cart those heavier instruments --the box sextant > >could be carried in a pocket. I don't believe the accuracy was high > >enough for use at sea, except perhaps in emergency situations, more on > >the order of degrees than arcminutes. > > > >Fred > > > >On Sep 16, 2005, at 9:59 AM, Piccer wrote: > > > >>I followed the dicussion on the plastic sextant with a lot of interest. > >> > >>At home I have a replica of what is called a " box" sextant. > >>I never tried to use it, but can somebody tell me if this is a serious > >>instrument? > >> > >>The only reference I have found is on the website of Stanley, London : > >>they sell the replica's > >> > >>Many thanks > >> > >>Willem Piccer > > ============================ > > In listmember Peter Ifland's lovely book, "Taking the Stars", a couple of > pages are devoted to box sextants, with several photos of > these instruments. Here's some of what he says- > > "The so-called box sextant brought an entirely different approach to a > small, lightweight, easily portable angle-measuring instrument. The box > sextant was designed specifically for explorers and surveyors and enjoyed > popularity through most of the nineteenth century. All the essential > elements of a complete Hadley sextant- an index mirror, a horizon mirror, > colored-glass filters- were contained within two circular brass plates only > 3 1/2 inches in diameter ... It is unlikely that the box sextant was much > used at sea except perhaps for small boats and yachts..." > > I recall a warning, some years ago on the "sextants" mailing list, to the > effect that "Stanley, London" was a label frequently attached to modern > instruments intended as replicas, which give the appearance of earlier > instruments, but are quite unsuitable for measurement, being made without > attempting to achieve any sort of accuracy. Willem's box sextant may or may > not come into that category; he should regard it with some suspicion. > > George. > =============================================================== > Contact George at george@huxtable.u-net.com ,or by phone +44 1865 820222, > or from within UK 01865 820222. > Or by post- George Huxtable, 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 > 5HX, UK. >