Salvage Sailor Posted January 30, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 30, 2009 Aloha Everyone, I was driving past a junk shop today, one that I'd passed by many times before, and decided to take a look today. It is one of those stores that are piled high with old forgotten household items, bric-a-brac, figurines, chachkas, and just plain junk. You can hardly turn around without knocking something over and the few militaria items were either fakes or common modern pieces. As I was leaving, my 'Salvage senses' started tingling when I noticed a display case in the back corner that I'd passed up. On the top shelf was a leather case that I immediately knew was early century military, hopefully US issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted January 30, 2009 Taking a look inside......Bingo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted January 30, 2009 Angle of Site Instrument Model of 1917 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted January 30, 2009 Inspector's Mark: Stamped US INSPR-WL NO-859 Stamped '18' on bottom for 1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted January 30, 2009 Manufacturers Markings: MFD BY ATWATER KENT MFG WKS PHILA PA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted January 30, 2009 According to 'America's Munitions 1917-1918' published by the United States War Department, there were 4,401 of these Angle of Site instruments made and delivered by November 11th, 1918. Atwater Kent was the only manufacturer and they completed the entire order of 4,468 by February 20th, 1919. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Meatcan Posted January 30, 2009 Share #7 Posted January 30, 2009 too funny! that's a neat find; it looks very minty for its age. Great score! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted January 30, 2009 Thanks, I enjoy the hunt. In doing some research on this instrument and it's usage by US Artillery Battery Officers, the following is from 'Manual for the Artillery Orientation Officer' published in 1917, oddly by the Department of the Interior? Angle of Site or briefly, Site: The vertical angle between the line from gun to target and the horizontal line passing through the site of the gun. The 'Angle of Site Instrument' has an eyepiece that looks into a 90 degree mirror reflecting the 'bubble' in the level glass on top. Adjustment is made by the wheel on top of the instrument to set the level (angle of site) of the gun tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted February 12, 2020 Eleven year bump for the newer members and collectors..... Apparently these Angle of Sight Instruments were still in the Army inventory on the eve of WWII as seen in this April 1941 Technical manual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted February 12, 2020 Share #10 Posted February 12, 2020 I just checked mine. Ther serial number is way up in the 4000 range, so one of the last ones made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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