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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: C Plath sextant, missing part
From: Peter Van Dine
Date: 2017 Dec 25, 08:20 -0800
From: Peter Van Dine
Date: 2017 Dec 25, 08:20 -0800
Thank you very much for clarifying the handle question. The sextant came in a wooden box and is missing the two leaf springs. Does any one have a source to replace or a photo so i know what to look for that might be adaptable?
Happy Christmas to all
Peter Van Dine
Opus 411
On Sun, Dec 24, 2017 at 7:48 AM, Ridge White <NoReply_RidgeWhite@fer3.com> wrote:
Peter,For a number of years C. Plath made their sextant handles just as this one is, with no back cover and no provision for lighting. This design permitted the sextant, when lowered into its box, to be pushed down to engage two leaf springs in the base of the cradle. Those leaf springs pushed the sextant up against the gate piece that swung across the top of the handle, helping that gate to stay in position across the handle. This handle is unfortunate in two ways. First, without a back half, it is uncomfortable in the hand. Second, this handle bisects the angle of the frame instead of being canted at an angle that allows for a far more comfortable position for the wrist of the user.Ridge WhiteOn Sun, Dec 24, 2017 at 9:11 AM, Ridge White <whiteinstruments---.com> wrote:On Sat, Dec 23, 2017 at 10:48 PM, Bill Morris <NoReply_Morris@fer3.com> wrote:I agree with Greg. My best estimate is March 1957. With Bakelite handles like this one, there is usually a C Plath imprint on its face. Some, perhaps all, of this era came in heavy black Bakelite cases with a variety of systems for holding the sextant securely. Maybe Negus had a box made or adapted another for the instrument.
Bill Morris
Pukenui
New Zealand
