Instrument enquiry

[Peter Batt]

Hi there,
I hope this is ok to post here. My partners family on her fathers side have spent generation in the Merchant Navy and recently we found a box of instruments that belong to perhaps her grandfather (Walter Simmonds) or father (Howard Simmonds) While I have my head around many of the objects, I have no idea what this item is and would love to know.

[Jim Brady]

Hi Peter could it be a printing roller.
Regards.
Jim.B.thMH2M546D.jpg

[Keith Tindell]

Could be a super duper serving board. The one i used was an old mallet, kt

[Chris Allman]

Is that a cylinder roller or is it a metal blade, the photo does not give a good view. If its a blade it could be a scraper or a spokeshave type tool. However the writing on it seems to give measurements in distance in feet and yards - interesting.

[thomas michael]

Hi there,
I hope this is ok to post here. My partners family on her fathers side have spent generation in the Merchant Navy and recently we found a box of instruments that belong to perhaps her grandfather (Walter Simmonds) or father (Howard Simmonds) While I have my head around many of the objects, I have no idea what this item is and would love to know.

hi peter batt

I think it is a aid for looking at cardinal marks ie light flashes etc
tom

[j.sabourn]

Every tome I try to enlarge it, it jumps out of focus, so can’t make out the printing on it. Looks at first glance like a paint roller. But if something out of the ordinary could be a pedometer to read the distance rolled. The hole in the end just for hanging on the bulkhead As for reading cardinal points do you mean the top marks on buoys ?..flashing lights or occulting lights are usually white red or green or yellow. The difference between a flashing light and an occulting light being the occulting light the period of light is greater than the period of darkness and that’s all there is to it. Apart from the lights characteristics. Think it will be interesting if and when the answer is brought forward. Cheers JWS.

[thomas michael]

Every tome I try to enlarge it, it jumps out of focus, so can’t make out the printing on it. Looks at first glance like a paint roller. But if something out of the ordinary could be a pedometer to read the distance rolled. The hole in the end just for hanging on the bulkhead As for reading cardinal points do you mean the top marks on buoys ?..flashing lights or occulting lights are usually white red or green or yellow. The difference between a flashing light and an occulting light being the occulting light the period of light is greater than the period of darkness and that’s all there is to it. Apart from the lights characteristics. Think it will be interesting if and when the answer is brought forward. Cheers JWS.

hi j sbourn
I mean the flash sequence and not the colour, also could be for reading distance off and height measurements for lighthouses
I have never seen one before, but the gradient markings given in inches plus heights make it a possible guess
tom

[j.sabourn]

Thomas height measurement for lighthouses would or could be done with a sextant. Same as you have never seen before, could even be one of the first wire or rope gauges? what ever was used years ago. What ever it’s use looks pretty basic. Cheers JWS

[thomas michael]

Thomas height measurement for lighthouses would or could be done with a sextant. Same as you have never seen before, could even be one of the first wire or rope gauges? what ever was used years ago. What ever it’s use looks pretty basic. Cheers JWS

hi j sabourne
I'm thinking its more for small boat use , as you said the sextant was the obvious choice for professional navigators.
tom

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Tom.
When I first saw it i thought it was for worm and parceling, but obviously not that, may be as said it cvould be for small boats.
Cheers Des
PS My wife says it looks like some sort of comb like for wool or garment.