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Ken, Thanks much 4 info and hope Celestaire is doing ok.
Mike Burkes
>Mike,
>A major news magazine (Time I believe) wrote an article about Capt.
>Simonsen's success in his navigation business in the very early 70s.
>According to the article, he retired from the Merchant Marine and went to
>work for Sears selling shoes. This got old in a hurry, and he became
>nostalgic for involvement in navigation. He decided to place an ad in
>Yachting Magazine (I think) which said "Learn Celestial navigation at
>home..
>$35".  When the first check came in the mail he told his wife "well I guess
>we have to write the first lesson".  He did, and she mimeographed it for
>him.  When the results came back, he wrote the second lesson, and so forth.
>This led to the formation of Coast Navigation School which later opened
>offices in Brazil, and I think Sydney. He added his own private branded
>Simex sextants, and became very successful.  When he died, things slowly
>declined, and the busness inventory was sold to I think Bacon & Associates
>in Annapolis. They slowly sold everything off, and that was the end of. At
>about this time Joel started Nautech with an improved version of the Tamaya
>sextant.  Maybe he can add to this recount, or correct it.
>Ken
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "MIKE BURKES" 
>To: 
>Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 9:11 AM
>Subject: Simex, Coast Navigation and Captain Svend T. Simonsen
>
>
>>Hi Frank yes my Simex Mariner is equipped with polarized shades and is
>>certainly a nice feature!
>>Very cool u have autographed copy and any additional info on him and
>>school
>>would be appeciated!
>>Thanks much!
>>Mike Burkes
>>
>>
>>>From: FJones 
>>>Reply-To: Navigation Mailing List 
>>>To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM
>>>Subject: Simex, Coast Navigation and Captain Svend T. Simonsen
>>>Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 18:57:55 -0500
>>>
>>>Captain Svend T. Simonsen should be referenced and not
>>>Sorreson.  Svend autographed a copy of Blue Water Navigation,
>>>(Cornell Maritime Press, 1947) for me in 1969.  Thumbing through
>>>the yellowed pages bring back memories from long ago.
>>>
>>>I also remember purchasing one of the Simex sextants from Coast
>>>Navigation (Santa Barbara, CA) then and discovered it was made by
>>>Tamaya.  I don't recall it being equipped with polarizing shades
>>>however.
>>>
>>>Frank Jones
>>>Rochester, NY
>>
>>

   

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