MEMELPE Posted December 4, 2011 Share #1 Posted December 4, 2011 HY GUYS Could you help me ? today i find that item : us heliotrope box type E1 it is marked : " US HELIOTROPE BOX TYPE E1 AMERICAN INSTRUMENT CO " What is it for ? is the box complete or not ? and is it a WW2 item ? thanks http://No_outside_hosting.us/g/213/pb280532.jpg/ heliometre thanks for ID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEMELPE Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted December 5, 2011 help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted December 5, 2011 Share #3 Posted December 5, 2011 A Heliotrope is a surveying device which utilises sunlight reflected by a mirror. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEMELPE Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted December 5, 2011 yes but it is used for wich object/units ( artillery, airplane ....? ) and it calculate what ?....distances ....between what and what ? is this heliotrope a good WW2 ? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heliographer Posted February 25, 2012 Share #5 Posted February 25, 2012 today i find that item : us heliotrope box type E1 it is marked : " US HELIOTROPE BOX TYPE E1 AMERICAN INSTRUMENT CO " What is it for ? This heliotrope was designed for land surveying as a target marker when the survey point is far from the observer - typically 10-30 miles or so. At closer ranges an opaque target would be used, and at longer range, a heliotrope with larger mirrors (the record is 194 miles). Heliotropes were invented in 1821 by the famous German mathematician, Carl Friedrich Gauss, and were used by Colonel Everest for the great survey of India. With the advent of GPS surveying, these became markedly less popular, and the US Mil Spec for these (MIL-H-20194E) was retired on Dec. 8, 1995. The heliotrope is set over the point to be surveyed (e.g., located with that plumb bob), and light is reflected by the main mirror (the one bolted to the case) towards the observer many miles away. If the sun is behind the main mirror, then the secondary (loose) mirror is placed in front of the main mirror, and off to the side, to reflect the sun back to the main mirror. The heliotrope is sighted in on the observer using the small sights at the top of the aiming posts, then the mirror is adjusted so that the light passing through the aperture midway down the one aiming post s centered on the aperture in the center of the further aiming post. The usage of the heliotrope is described in section 4.31 (pages 4-40 and 4-41) and Figure 4.26 of TM 5-232 Elements of Surveying, June 1971, here: http://books.google.com/books?id=564XAAAAY...amp;pg=SA4-PA40 A similar discussion of the box heliotrope, with a diagram rather than a photo, is in the section titled "Heliotropes" on pp. 4-6 and 4.7 of Chapter 4: Targets and Signals, in FM 5-232 Topographical Surveying, here: http://library.enlisted.info/field-manuals..._232/2324CH.PDF http://www.enlisted.info/field-manuals/fm-...surveying.shtml The US Geological survey page has a very nice set of photos of the box type American Instrument Company heliotropes here (click on "original" for full size): http://gallery.usgs.gov/photos/07_20_2009_...3F_07_20_2009_7 http://gallery.usgs.gov/photos/07_20_2009_...3F_07_20_2009_6 http://gallery.usgs.gov/photos/07_20_2009_...3F_07_20_2009_5 The US military spec for the box heliotrope is here: SPEC MIL-H-20194E HELIOTROPE, SURVEYING, BOX-TYPE, WITH CASE http://assistdocs.com/search/document_deta...nt_number=14150 For more on heliotropes in general, see the Wikipedia article and its references: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliotrope_%28instrument%29 > is the box complete or not ? It looks like it could be - comparing it to the USGS one and mine, all the regular pieces seem to be there: two pivoting mirrors, two aiming loops, gimlet, screw, strap, and you even have a plumb bob (bonus). > and is it a WW2 item? I can't be definite on its age, though in balance I expect is is fairly old. These were made over a fairly long period - the spec was not taken out of service until 1995. Every one I've seen has been a little different. However, the physical layout of your heliotrope has much more in common with this one from 1914: http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/magazi...ope1914_450.jpg ( this is the tenth figure from the slide show at the bottom of this article: http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/magazi...ls/welcome.html ) than from the more modern illustrations: ( Hinged box rather than separate lid, mirrors attached to wood rather than to a metal rail, secondary mirror is loose, rather than attached to rail, etc.), so I'm thinking your heliotrope is fairly old. If there's a mil-spec number on it somewhere, that would help date it: MIL-H-20194C issued 16 March 1977 MIL-H-20194D issued 2 Dec. 1982 MIL-H-20194E issued 23 Jan. 1989 MIL-H-20194 retired Dec 1995.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heliographer Posted February 25, 2012 Share #6 Posted February 25, 2012 Here's some more photos of box heliotropes: Heliotrope in use: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/cgs01291.htm http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/bigs/cgs01291.jpg Recent color photo - Description here: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/cgs01475.htm http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/bigs/cgs01475.jpg Recent color photo - Description here: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/cgs01476.htm http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/bigs/cgs01476.jpg 1922 Photo: Description here: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/theb1637.htm http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/bigs/theb1637.jpg 1944 photo: Description here: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/cgs01356.htm http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/bigs/cgs01356.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heliographer Posted February 26, 2012 Share #7 Posted February 26, 2012 Even more photos of box heliotropes: The top one is a MilSpec MIL-H-20194 "HELIOTROPE, SURVEYING, BOX-TYPE, WITH CASE". The serial plate says it was made by "gordon enterprises", and has the following numbers on it: FSN-6675-240-1892 PO-23-195-R6-11164[T] MIL-H-20194 P/N D57541 S/N GED-189 The bottom one has no legible markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Meatcan Posted February 26, 2012 Share #8 Posted February 26, 2012 heliographer, thanks for the postings! :thumbsup: That is about as thorough a discussion as anyone could want on the usage and function of this device. I had the pleasure of seeing a demonstration on its setup and use by an old-timer when I worked for the Forest Service. Neat device in its simplicity. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEMELPE Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share #9 Posted February 26, 2012 WAHOU !!!!! Many thanks HELIOGRAPHER it s very helpful it s the best reply i' ve never had thanks memelpe ;-)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEMELPE Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share #10 Posted February 26, 2012 HELLO on the last picture, the last heliotrope ( the one on the bottom of the picture ) is exactly like mine ! thanks i ll look for markings ( but i think there is no marks ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heliographer Posted February 24, 2014 Share #11 Posted February 24, 2014 HELLO on the last picture, the last heliotrope ( the one on the bottom of the picture ) is exactly like mine ! thanks i ll look for markings ( but i think there is no marks ) Here's a seven-photo set of an instrument like yours that was just posted by signalmirror at Flickr.com: http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalmirror/12732327243/in/set-72157629091114108/ The photos are marked as usable by others if the author (signalmirror at Flickr.com) is credited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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