Hi!
A colleague of mine recently bought a german compass
at an antique store.
We suspect it is from a WWII german aircraft,but we are far
from sure about it.
It could also be from a boat.
The inscriptions on it reads:
ASKANIA-WERKE A.G.
BERLIN-FRIEDENAU
W.3011861
M.3076
NKSP 100
and also the nazi-eagle with swastika.
Anyone have a clue if this comes from an airplane, and if so,
what type?
Erik
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By: ErikH - 20th January 2002 at 15:15
RE: ID of German compass
Hi!
Thanks for the replies.
The gimbal type of mounting might very well tell
us that it is from a boat.
However, what made us think that it might have been used in an
aircraft, was that my colleague showed it to a retired mechanic that
came to visit at work.
This guy used to work at Ju-52’s after the war and said that the
compass looked like the one mounted between the pilot in this
aircraft.
(I did not mention this in the previous post because I would not
give away any leading clues..)
I also searched the web yesterday and found a very blurred picture
of a Ju-52 cockpit that showed what locked like a box with
a plexiglas lid containing a large compass between the pilots.
(Of course I forgot to save that picture….)
The search for the answer continues…Thanks so far!
Erik
By: tonydyer - 20th January 2002 at 12:59
RE: ID of German compass
Sorry Erik, it is a marine compass. The good thing about German aviation equipment is that it has a part no starting ‘FL’ with the L sometimes looking like a capital i. Compasses were panel mounted from WW2
Regards
Tony
By: Ja Worsley - 20th January 2002 at 05:20
RE: ID of German compass
I also have to agree, after spending time in the navy around compasses like this one. Judging by the size of the pen next to it, I’d say that it came from a small vessel, possibly either an E-boat (German MTB), or a small sub maybe a Type VII, but nothing bigger. It definatly comes from a small vessel, where space is of a premium. Your best bet would be to take it to a war museum and have it looked at there, if they can’t help you no-one can.
When push comes to shove, don’t stand near a cliff
By: Ant.H - 19th January 2002 at 00:06
RE: ID of German compass
I have to agree with Halibag that it looks rather like a maritime compass rather than one from an aeroplane,the giveaway for me being that this one is mounted on a Binnacle,the idea being that the compass itself stays horizontal as the boat pitches and rolls on the waves.
By: Halibag - 18th January 2002 at 22:06
RE: ID of German compass
My best ‘guess’ is that it originated from a ship / boat / submarine etc, as the compass has a nautical sort of mounting (technical eh?) along with nautical type of markings on the face of the compass.
I have no doubt someone will prove me wrong, but that’s MY best guess anyhow.
Good luck
Halibag
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January 18, 2002 at 7:12 pm