Please Help Identify This Instrument

[cakollektor]

We bought this at a garage sale & can't find anyone who can tell us exactly what it is. We've searched all over the internet, visited the local VFW, the Planes of Fame & the Air Museum in Chino, CA... nobody seems to know. If someone here can help, we would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks, Denise

[trackend]

It looks like an Inclinometer of some sort but from where I wouldn't know but I suspect FlyboyJ on many of the other guys will be able to tell you

[FLYBOYJ]

??????????????

[SABURO]

Hi cakollektor,
Could be too easy but is there any references / data plate on your (looks like compass?) ?
Cheers,

Olivier

[cougar32d]

anybody thinking submarine? just a thought.

[cougar32d]

or did i just turn retarded?

[Thorlifter]

No cougar, I don't think you are. I'm thinking its a dive plane indicator.

[cougar32d]

makes me feel better thanks

[Micdrow]

cakollektor, could you give us the dimentions of the part. I have to agree with Thorlifter. It looks way to big to be for an aircraft. At least by looking at the pictues and the location for the placement of fittings.

[cakollektor]

Thanks so much to everyone for the input. In answer to Saburo's question regarding a data plate, there is none... we did find a number stamped into the metal underneath top ring. I wrote it down, but can't seem to find where I wrote it now. I believe it was six digits, the first digit a 3. It came in a wooden box, but I don't know if it is meant to be in the box, or if a previous owner did that. The top ring is 5-7/8" diameter & the height is about 4-1/16", not including the post that sticks out the bottom. I added a couple more photos. Again, thanks for the help. Denise

[SABURO]

cakollektor = the lucky collector of the year !!!???
To me.....
This is a Japanese Reflector navigator's compass model 1 or 2, (kai ?).
According to my sources it could be Type 2 Kai (to be confirm !)
your compass is missing the reflector mirror (may be not, it was use as a simple aperiodic compass (like the British type P6, P8, P4, P10, P11)on the BETTY & FRANCES bomber), the lighting system,the card holder and the data plate (could have been a decal). A specialist could be more precise for the Type.

Usefull link :
http://gunsight.jp/b/english/hunatu03e.htm
Usefull book/
Monogram close-up N°14 & 15
Aviator uniform & equipement of IJN (model art magazine) see the scan below.
Japanese aircraft interior 1940-1945 by Robert C.Mikesh


Used on: (to be confirm !)
NELL
IRVING
BETTY (aperiodic)
FRANCES (aperiodic)
SEIRAN
JAKE
PAUL

P.S. More and more I think your compass must have been used without the miror, for direct reading from above (like the Brtish type, see above) as the numbers are written in a normal way not reverse as they are on the document attached (to be read with a mirror) so I would say Betty bomber or Frances A/C.

[just-nick]

Wow, this is a fun mytery. Do you have any assurange that it is military related at all? I mean yes, its got the look, but it might be some sort of flow meter for a milking parlor for all we know!

Anyhow, I checked out this site:

The Fleet Type Submarine Online

Based on the submarine theory and didn't see any obvious matches on the sttering equipment stations. But someone else might have more time -- and its a great site to look at in any case.

Does anyone else look at the -40 to 40 scale and the 10 to 0 scale and think some sort of main and vernier scales?

[FLYBOYJ]

Great work Olivier!

[Micdrow]

Wow awsome job there Olivier. I could have stared at that all day and never figured it out.

[SABURO]

This photo of a Betty G4M bomber cockpit is from "Japanese aircraft interior 1940-1945" by Robert C.Mikesh
Page 233
Cheers,

Olivier