can you identify this?

[administrator]

Please help me identify this...

[capn_dave]

Could it be a gyro compass? Is it electric?

[sailingdog]

Could also be an very old autopilot...

[pigslo]

That is a time machine attachment. No, seriously I vote with the two previous posts.

Pigslo

[sailingdog]

Pigslo-
So, you think it is either a gyro or an autopilot, but you won't commit to either and break the tie?

[administrator]

I was thinking a flux capacitor.

[Surfesq]

Lol...Yeah that's it...Mr. Back to the Future. You could settle it once and for all of course. I noticed that it is patented. It must have the patent number on it somewhere. You can look up the number very easily and it will give you the answer. I think its a compass.

[sailingdog]

I always thought a flux capacitor had three blue glowing tubes on it...

Like this:http://infonomicon.org/images/phreaknic9/DSCN2173.JPG

[redcorvette1995]

It is an old aircraft compass, mid 1940s to mid 1950s, B29, stratocruiser, etc. Designed so it can be installed at a right angle to course, but show course. Compases like this were installed in the navigators compartment above the chart table. The navigator would sit facing the side of the cabin and the compass would be in front of him. All of the ajustment wheels let you level the compass. The big plate at the bottom is a damping plate to slow the compass and prevent jump. If the plate at the bottom has electrical connections then it could be a reapeater compass, but from what I can see of the picture I don't think so.

Cheers,

Todd

[Omatako]

The real question i how dis they ever find their targets? The hirzantal compass shows a heading of nearly south and the vertical one due north! Just kidding, I have no idea what these different readings mean. But B52 sounds reasonable, just hope they're not planning on nuking Indonesia with one of these in the plane.