This Fine Sextant Has Been Sold. Thank You!
Ranks 5 PLUS STARS=center>
Presented only infrequently is an absolutely outstanding and near flawless example of an earlier C. Plath sextant, in this case, Serial No. 14174.
It comes with its original and beautifully varnished Mahogany, case with a 3.5 x 40 scope, a sighting tube and mounting
bracket, and replacement mirror adjustment tool. The original certificate issued by the Deutsche Seewarte, dated August 5,
1937, is included. Their official stamp is that of a spread winged eagle above a cartouche with wreath that surrounds
the German logo of that period. Its 135 degree arc is halfway between a sextant and a quintant. The telescope is held in position
by a moveable arm called a rising piece which allows it to move towards or away from the frame. This allows for increasing
the brightness of the celestial body of the horizon as seen by the viewer. It was a valuable feature for taking twilight sights
that is no longer found on contemporary sextants.
The Deutsche Seewarte (German Naval Observatory), Hamburg was founded in 1878. It was
responsible for making marine observations and geomagnetic observations. No data records were kept between 1919 and 1930,
and the magnetic measurements were temporarily stopped in 1936. After the Second World War the operations were
merged into German Hydrographic Institute, which was renamed the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency in 1990.
This instrument’s frame is precision made and of much higher
quality than post War instruments. It operates like a well oiled piece of machinery. It has NO faults even minor ones. It
shows little discernable evidence of wear, and can be considered as new. Both the horizon and index mirrors look as NEW.
It is ideally suited for someone who seeks only the
highest quality instruments either as a collector of rare instruments or for use at sea. It should provide outstanding dependable
service, and pride in the ownership of a C. Plath sextant which is considered by many to be the standard by which other sextants
are measured.
CONDITION: Irrespective of age, overall condition
is as new except as noted previously. Adjustable index error, 1 min “on the arc”. All moving parts turn freely. Mirrors are
perpendicular to frame. The index mirror and split image horizon mirror are as new. The case is in superb condition.
It is fitted with the early style wood hold down clamp, and space for a brush and small pair of binoculars, neither of
which are included. Most of the paint is in new condition without chips, bubbles, or lifting, and the machined screws glisten.
No illumination was fitted to Plath sextants of this era.
STAR RATING: This sextant easily rates
FIVE PLUS STARS. It is one of the finest examples of a previously owned C. Plath Classic that we have ever
seen in the past three years and is suitable for a collector or for use at sea.
It
requires someone who can appreciate the fine points of a sextant, and is willing to pay an appropriate price for this level
of quality and excellence.
QUALIFICATIONS: We are one of the few company’s
still selling navigation instruments that know anything about them. For purposes of judging whether Joel’s opinion counts, he
was the editor of the chapter on sextants of the 1977 Edition of “Bowditch”, The American Practical Navigator, NAVPUB 9; a
member of the U.S. Naval Academy Navigation Symposium Board, 1975 -1978; the author of a book on marine sextants, Cornell
Maritime Press,1975, and the founding president of Nautech Maritime Corporation which partnered with Tamaya of Japan in the
introduction of the MS 733 Spica, the MS 833, Jupiter, MS 933 Venus sextants and the famous NC-2 navigation computer, in the
U.S. market. Joel is also a retired Master Mariner, and held a U.S. Navy “D” Qualification as a Senior Skipper – Oceans. From 1995 through 2000, he served as a Varsity Offshore Sailing Team coach at the U.S. Naval Academy.
COMPANY HISTORY: In brief, Carl Plath started manufacturing
sextants, in addition to other nautical products, in Hamburg Germany in 1862 though the company’s origin dates back to 1837.
As a result WW II, C.Plath was dismantled completely by the occupation forces. Around 1950, various prohibitions
were lifted, and C. Plath was allowed to begin production again of sextants and other nautical instruments. Also in 1949,C.Plath
was offered a gyrocompass patent and in 1951 the first gyrocompass designed to this patent was presented to the public. C.Plath progressed
from the role of instrument maker to that of a modern marine navigation equipment manufacturer. In the following years the
product range was expanded by many more modern designs such as autopilots, speed logs, radio direction finders, etc.
In 1962 C.Plath
was acquired by Litton Industries, a large American concern.The C.Plath North American Division was set up in 1978 in College
Park near Washington. 1996 saw the introduction of the world’s first fiber-optic solid-state gyrocompass by C.Plath.
The first ever gyrocompass with no moving parts. Sperry Marine was formed in 1997 with the combination of C.Plath, Decca Marine
and Sperry Marine with more organizational changes yet to come. After 163 years, C.Plath changes its name to Sperry Marine
in May 2000. In 2001 Sperry Marine becomes part of the Northrop Grumman Corporation, and shortly thereafter discontinues sextant
production. All parts, machinery, and tooling were destroyed.
C. PLATH CLASSIC Sextant
SPECIFICATIONS:
Measuring Range: -5 to 135 degrees
Telescope: 3.5 x 40
Coated optics Frame: Bronze with black enamel paint and bronze arc. Micrometer
Drum and Vernier Scale: reads to 1.0 min.
Index Mirror: 56 x 42 mm. aluminized on the rear side.
Horizon Mirror: 57mm diameter.
Shades:
4 for index mirror
3 for horizon mirror
Weight: 4 lbs, 11 lbs in case Carrying case: Varnished wood
without a key
INCLUDED ARE:
1 C. Plath Sextant frame
1 3.5
x 40 Scope
1 Sighting tube
1 Rising piece for sighting tube
1 Mirror adjustment wrench –
replacement
No Brush
No binoculars
1 Varnished Mahogany sextant case with
locking key
