Dear all,
I was the lucky bidder on an ARP first aid box at a local auction today.
When I opened the box I was chuffed to find the item pictured below inside the box.
I suspect that it was more likely something that the Royal Observer Corps would have used.
Can anyone confirm / dispel this and point me in the right direction where I can find more information on its use or a photograph of somebody using one.
Many thanks in advance
Gerry
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th February 2013 at 14:13
I’d put it at more like 1940/1, going by the types listed.
Also, since the only Allied types are F.A.A. (Martlet, Skua, Fulmar, etc), then I think this has more to do with defence of the Fleet than the R.O.C.
Some form of ship borne device to range A.A. guns?
Edited to add that I hadn’t followed TT’s link but that is exactly what I had in mind – I used to have one of the American ones.
By: gedburke3 - 13th February 2013 at 13:30
Dear all,
Many thanks for your replies and advice regarding its use.
I have still not been able to locate a picture of one in use which is a shame.
I suspect from the aircraft listed that it dates from 1939/40.
Cheers
Gerry
By: bazv - 9th February 2013 at 19:27
At least they knew the correct designation for the 109 and 110 at Fidelity engineering 😉
By: smirky - 9th February 2013 at 18:58
Yep, it’s a rangefinder. Hold at arm’s length (unless you are a gibbon:eek:). Choice of four scales depending on target size which is a combination of wingspan and visual aspect.
I had it mind to make a nice plastic one with a moving pointer so you could take the measurement first, then decide what it was and do the range calculation afterwards with a built-in slide-rule thingy. Bit like the US one 🙂
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 9th February 2013 at 18:38
Top find!
Looks like you have the British equivalent of this:
TT
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th February 2013 at 18:03
Yes, I have had these before but I suspect somebody like Air Ministry could tell you more.
I always understood it to be some kind of primnitive ranging device for AA gunnery.
Sign In
February 9, 2013 at 5:23 pm