» Antique and Rarities for sale in Australia » Other » Antique Maritime Navigation Station Pointer Locator Nautical British Made

Antique British Made Station Pointer, likely used by Naval Officers in training. Is Made in England with celluloid disc and what appear to be bakelite tension screws. Arms are sold brass, japan black. All in very good order in original case. Veyr rare item and likely to have WW2 provenance as it appears circa 1940s although this is not certain. 
A Station Pointer is an instrument used to determine the position of ship or offshore vessel. In coastal navigation the vessel's co-ordinates can be established by setting angles between visible coastal objects. After setting the legs of the station pointer to these angles and tightening the two verniers, the instrument is then laid on map showing the same objects with the legs running in line with the objects. The point where the legs meet the centre of the circular protractor is the precise position of the vessel. This process is especially useful in coastal surveys when charting soundings. This same procedure can of course be used to determine one's position on land. 

Also published at eBay.com.au