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Craig D you asked about Hughes Mates shade nuts.

Hughes produced their ‘Mates’ sextant for at least 50 years.  Earlier ones were finished in black crackle paint and had brass or bronze screws and nuts.  Later ones were finished with grey crackle paint and the screws and nuts appeared to be of polished steel of some kind.  Yours appears to be of the later variety.  Whilst there must have been a few modifications over the years, the Mate’s sextant has hardly changed at all.  This makes me wonder if yours has been assembled differently at some stage of its career.  Your photograph appears to be of the index shades.  If you look at the three photographs of my 1941 Model, you’ll note it has no slotted nut at the front, just a slotted screw. At the rear it has a short length of rod held with a steel pin.  This must also have a threaded blind hole on its inside to take the screw.  Without further disassembly there’s no space to get a screwdriver in.  I only have one slotted nut on my sextant and that’s at the rear of the horizon shades.  It’s most likely that Hughes rationalised the design at some stage, but it’s worth keeping in mind that your sextant might have been reassembled incorrectly at some stage in its career.  This doesn't help you sort out the nut I'm afraid.  DaveP

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