Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Ancient Navigation??

All items232987 of 241859The only Texas Holdem im Smart enough to Play...Life of Napoleon Bonaparte - 1834
1
Love it
1
Like it

officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 13 years ago

    FoxysMyGirl
    (1 item)

    I don't know exactly what this item is. I am very curious to see if anyone knows what it is used for. My mother died in 1987 and I have many, many cool items that I inherited from her that have been in our family for generations. My problem is that this time, I don't know what this is. Her father was in WW2 as a fighter pilot so maybe it was his. Her uncle was Jesse H. Jones from Houston, TX, and I have a lot of items from his home that he gave to her. Maybe it was his? He gave her a set of silver flatware that he received as a gift on a visit to The White House, so he gave her several really interesting items. I just don't know if this came from him or her father. She always used to tell me the history of different pieces, but being young and thinking I would always have her, I didn't pay very close attention at times. Live and learn! That piece to the left in one of the pictures fits on the back but I don't really know why. If anyone knows what this is and if it has any value I would be interested in knowing. I wouldn't sell my family items but I would like to know what I have. Thank you for your time in reading this. I would appreciate input on this item.
    Amy Smith, Texas City, TX

    Mystery Solved

    Comments

    1. Picking-and-Collecting Picking-and-Collecting, 13 years ago
      I think it is an early lensatic compass. Much older than WWII
    2. Picking-and-Collecting Picking-and-Collecting, 13 years ago
      Interesting entry about Jacob Blattner here. http://www.surveyhistory.org/st__louis_instrument_makers1.htm
    3. FoxysMyGirl FoxysMyGirl, 13 years ago
      Thank you for the information! I appreciate the link to the website. That is very helpful.
    4. FoxysMyGirl FoxysMyGirl, 13 years ago
      Thank you very much for the information! This may be a stupid question, but do you mean surveyor's compass, like the kind of surveyor who does the land surveys? I am just wondering what it's actual purpose was, and which one of my relatives would have had something like that and for what reason. I don't think I have any surveyors in my family history. Then again, we all seem to like to collect interesting items. I have had it in a closet for years without knowing what it was.
      Thanks!
      Amy
    5. FoxysMyGirl FoxysMyGirl, 13 years ago
      Thank you very much for your information. It all makes perfect sense, except for the family fact that I don't think we have any surveyors anywhere in my family tree. I wish I had asked my mom where it came from and how we ended up with it. I appreciate your comments and help. At least now I know what it is for sure. Thank you!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.