Hi all,

I have come across this item/tool for which I'm at a loss as to it's use. I'm
making an assumption that because it has the word "Aft" it means toward the rear
of a boat - but assumptions are quite often wrong, especially mine.

Anyone seen one of these before? It's 9 cm high, and has lift-able flaps on all
four sides. Each flap covers 9 small holes that go all the way through the block
to the opposite side. It also has a removable block with a brass plate top which
also has 7 holes arranged in a daisy wheel formation.

https://s3.eu-
west-1.amazonaws.com/ric.rr.uploadarea/m4hQjur096dgRT5thaer/Unknown/aft01.jpg

https://s3.eu-
west-1.amazonaws.com/ric.rr.uploadarea/m4hQjur096dgRT5thaer/Unknown/aft02.jpg

https://s3.eu-
west-1.amazonaws.com/ric.rr.uploadarea/m4hQjur096dgRT5thaer/Unknown/aft03.jpg

https://s3.eu-
west-1.amazonaws.com/ric.rr.uploadarea/m4hQjur096dgRT5thaer/Unknown/aft04.jpg

https://s3.eu-
west-1.amazonaws.com/ric.rr.uploadarea/m4hQjur096dgRT5thaer/Unknown/aft05.jpg

Taking a long shot here, but it may be for holding the metal compensating 
rods used to adjust a ship's magnetic compass that has been thrown off by 
the vessels metal construction.

Just a guess.

Marv Paisner
Kootenay Lake, BC




-----Original Message----- 
From: sushimonster via groups.io
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2024 4:30 AM
To: oldtools@g...
Subject: [oldtools] Help with an unknown item - possibly maritime?

Hi all,

I have come across this item/tool for which I'm at a loss as to it's use. 
I'm making an assumption that because it has the word "Aft" it means toward 
the rear of a boat - but assumptions are quite often wrong, especially mine.

Anyone seen one of these before? It's 9 cm high, and has lift-able flaps on 
all four sides. Each flap covers 9 small holes that go all the way through 
the block to the opposite side. It also has a removable block with a brass 
plate top which also has 7 holes arranged in a daisy wheel formation.

> On Feb 26, 2024, at 12:31 PM, Marvin Paisner  wrote:
> 
> Taking a long shot here, but it may be for holding the metal compensating
rods used to adjust a ship's magnetic compass that has been thrown off by the
vessels metal construction.
> 
I really like Marvin Paisner's guess!

If all the hardware is brass or bronze, that would support his hypothesis.

As I understand it, there are two sets of small holes, with the sets being at
right angles to each other.  That also supports Marvin's hypothesis.

John Ruth
Metuchen, NJ

Can't find Marvin's response, except in the archives, but it sounds
reasonable, so I'll respond to John's response to Marvin's theory.

For those who don't know, here is a section on how its done, but nothing
noting  storage for the magnets

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Elements_of_Navigation_Chart_Lead_Log_De/M0
VLAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=marine+compass+compensation++rod+storage&pg=RA2-PA21&
printsec=frontcover

Kirk in Half Moon Bay

On Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 10:41 AM John Ruth  wrote:

>
> > On Feb 26, 2024, at 12:31 PM, Marvin Paisner  wrote:
> >
> > Taking a long shot here, but it may be for holding the metal
> compensating rods used to adjust a ship's magnetic compass that has been
> thrown off by the vessels metal construction.
> >
> I really like Marvin Paisner's guess!
>
> If all the hardware is brass or bronze, that would support his hypothesis.
>
> As I understand it, there are two sets of small holes, with the sets being
> at right angles to each other.  That also supports Marvin's hypothesis.
>
>
>


-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA 

Galoots,

An online search finds that "WF Stanley" manufactured ships compasses and 
the link below reports a Patt. 1135 "moulded type corrector".

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/documents/aa110099165/g30-govrm-
drwgs-pattern-1135-moulded-type-corrector

I believe the corrector box would hold the rods and magnets used to "swing" 
the compass on a large steel hulled vessel. While a magnetic compass is 
usually mounted in a binnacle there are occasions when it is suspended 
overhead from brackets in a gimbal.  I worked on such a vessel and the 
corrector rods for our magnetic compass were mounted in a wooden box 
overhead just aft of the compass gimbal. Our box was a much simpler 
arrangement that the one in "sushimonster's" photos.

For anyone interested in compass "swinging" I have linked the article below. 
I had the pleasure of being on watch in the wheelhouse when Captain Barber 
swung our compass shortly before his retirement.  A true master and very 
friendly fellow.

https://professionalmariner.com/swinging-a-compass/

Marv Paisner
Kootenay Lake, BC




-----Original Message----- 
From: Kirk Eppler via groups.io
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2024 2:48 PM
To: John Ruth
Cc: Marvin Paisner ; musashisakai@y... ; oldtools@g...
Subject: Re: [oldtools] Help with an unknown item - possibly maritime?

Can't find Marvin's response, except in the archives, but it sounds
reasonable, so I'll respond to John's response to Marvin's theory.

For those who don't know, here is a section on how its done, but nothing
noting  storage for the magnets

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Elements_of_Navigation_Chart_Lead_Log_De/M0
VLAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=marine+compass+compensation++rod+storage&pg=RA2-PA21&
printsec=frontcover

Kirk in Half Moon Bay

On Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 10:41 AM John Ruth  wrote:

>
> > On Feb 26, 2024, at 12:31 PM, Marvin Paisner  wrote:
> >
> > \ufeffTaking a long shot here, but it may be for holding the metal
> compensating rods used to adjust a ship's magnetic compass that has been
> thrown off by the vessels metal construction.
> >
> I really like Marvin Paisner's guess!
>
> If all the hardware is brass or bronze, that would support his hypothesis.
>
> As I understand it, there are two sets of small holes, with the sets being
> at right angles to each other.  That also supports Marvin's hypothesis.
>
>
>


-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA 

As ever you guys are just the best. Marvin, John & Kirk - thanks for all that
great info!

I had no idea adjustment of a ships compass would be necessary for such reason -
and absolutely no idea it would be done in this way.

And - under all the grey paint, everything is, as speculated - brass.

Great contributions all. I now have another interesting factoid I can produce
when the moment calls for it :)

 GG's:

For decades, the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office issued a hardbound handbook for
magnetic compasses.  A quick search revealed that it has been superseded by an
on-line pdf file from a different agency:

download ( https://msi.nga.mil/api/publications/download?key=16920950/SFH00000/H
oMCA.pdf&type=view )
PDF Document · 2 MB ( https://msi.nga.mil/api/publications/download?key=16920950
/SFH00000/HoMCA.pdf&type=view )

( https://msi.nga.mil/api/publications/download?key=16920950/SFH00000/HoMCA.pdf&
type=view )

John Ruth
Metuchen NJ