Posted 16 years ago
pickerwith…
(1 item)
The best I can gather, this is a measurment tool used by ship operators to establish current depths. It works by placing the fathom stick into the vessel, adding ink, and dropping overboard until it touches bottom. It is then brought back aboard. The pressure forces the ink up the scale. The stick is then removed from the vessel and observed to see how high up the ink rose. The top of the ink mark coinsides with a fathom mark on the stick, there you go... a Depthometer.
How old might it be?
I purchased it from the estate of a great lakes shipping captain.
I would like to see it go to a museum.
According to this web site the company used this name from 1921 to 1937. That would date your piece. I am sure there is a maritime museum in your area that would LOVE to receive it as a gift.
I did find two other web sites that listed this for sale. Since the pictures are identical either you have it for sale or it is where you bought it. Very cool piece.
Senior moment...here is the web site...
http://www.hasi.gr/makers/dobbie-mcinnes
There is a Great Lakes Museum in Alpena Michigan--Worthwhile visting.