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Can anyone tell me What this is

2K views 12 replies 10 participants last post by  weephee 
#1 ·
This item is solid brass and looks to be a piece from the 50's or 60's maybe. Not sure. The top is 4 1/4 inches in diameter. The height is 3 5/8 inches and the little window is 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Elliot Eros is stamped on a disc in the window. It has a north point and the needle points north but no East, West or South stamped on the plate. I assume it is a compass but what kind and how do you get into it.
 

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#5 ·
Old army compasses had the lid open up and then a sight fold up as well to take bearings. Looks like a fold up sight visible through the glass.
 
#6 ·
Look up "lensatic compass" or "army compass" this looks to be the same thing but much nicely made from brass. The cover with the glass would flip up on the hinge, the brass tongue you see under it should also flip up. Then you sight through the end of the "tongue" and the glass, which should have a prismatic effect allowing you to see the compass reading (bearing) directly under the image of what you are looking at.

If the hinge is frozen try a little PBlaster on it to get it started again.

A modern pot metal lensatic compass is usually a $5-10 item on the shelf at any camping store.
 
#9 ·
Top picture: Bottom right appears to have a little nubbin (technical term meaning thingy) that you'd pull out to release the top cover to swing away from you like a laptop screen.

Third picture: That hinge is for the "sight" to pivot up on.

The reason you can't see the W, S, E marks is because they are on a fixed plate that swings with the device, and there is a needle/arrow that indicates the direction being sighted.

They used similar devices in fire towers.
 
#13 ·
Thanks for the information. I did get it open and there is a fixed plate beautifully engraved with north, south, east and west. There is a flip up arm with a vertical hair line which you line up with a mirror image on the underside of the hinged lid. There is a floating needle. A neat piece which is well made. Thanks all
 
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