Larrythepilot
Airman 1st Class
In our museum, we have a display case of "orphan" items. We know what each item is (at least we think we do), but we have no other parts it relates to, so it in an "orphan." One such item is a "Compass Mount -- Magnetic compass mounting bracket from a British Lancaster bomber." At least that's what the little sign with it says. I confess that I made that sign many years ago, on the say-so of somebody else (maybe aviation artist David Gray?). Just last week, our President asked me if I would make a fixture so it would stand up properly. I told him I would, and make a better sign as well.
A couple days ago I set out to build the fixture, but then realized I don't know the proper orientation for the item. Which way is up? Which is front or back? I could make a guess, but I would like to be sure. Where was it located in the airplane? What did it look like with a compass in it? (Maybe I have a proper magnetic compass for it.) So I went to the internet and searched. I couldn't find a picture, so I still don't know how to proceed. Using the c3446
46 number cast into the main body, I did get reference to an Avro Lancaster bomber, so I think that's the right track. But I sure would like a picture, both for orientation, and to use on the new descriptive sign.
I took several different view pictures of the item, with a ruler in the foreground for size. It's roughly 4 inches wide x 6 inches tall x 5 inches deep (if that's the correct orientation). Besides the cast-in number, there is a number printed on it in black ink, 883, and on the gray collar there is a partial scale of some sort, and the letter A, maybe a /, space, and then 345. There is something before the A, but the paint is gone. The main piece and the gray collar are aluminum, but the fasteners are all steel (magnetic). That's odd, because fasteners around magnetic compasses are usually brass (non-magnetic). One last point: The mounting holes in the gray collar are elongated, so it can be rotated maybe 10 degrees. Compass adjustment or compensation???
I used a real camera to take the pictures; not my cell phone. That's how I got so close to the numbers. It would be really nice if one of you could come up with pictures of the item, how/where it was mounted, and maybe with a compass in it. Thank you for your help. Merry Christmas ----- Larry
A couple days ago I set out to build the fixture, but then realized I don't know the proper orientation for the item. Which way is up? Which is front or back? I could make a guess, but I would like to be sure. Where was it located in the airplane? What did it look like with a compass in it? (Maybe I have a proper magnetic compass for it.) So I went to the internet and searched. I couldn't find a picture, so I still don't know how to proceed. Using the c3446
I took several different view pictures of the item, with a ruler in the foreground for size. It's roughly 4 inches wide x 6 inches tall x 5 inches deep (if that's the correct orientation). Besides the cast-in number, there is a number printed on it in black ink, 883, and on the gray collar there is a partial scale of some sort, and the letter A, maybe a /, space, and then 345. There is something before the A, but the paint is gone. The main piece and the gray collar are aluminum, but the fasteners are all steel (magnetic). That's odd, because fasteners around magnetic compasses are usually brass (non-magnetic). One last point: The mounting holes in the gray collar are elongated, so it can be rotated maybe 10 degrees. Compass adjustment or compensation???
I used a real camera to take the pictures; not my cell phone. That's how I got so close to the numbers. It would be really nice if one of you could come up with pictures of the item, how/where it was mounted, and maybe with a compass in it. Thank you for your help. Merry Christmas ----- Larry
