AC/DC and gyro compasses.

[j.sabourn]

Not musical and not sexual descriptions , but what I can remember of running a Browns B type Gyro Compass on a DC ship. Anyone else experience the same ?
A gyro compass requires or used to require a constant AC current to keep the gyroscope spinning at a constant particular r.p.m. Otherwise was unreliable. on a DC ship this had to be achieved by the use of an inverter to convert the supply to the compass and a Carbon Pile to keep the compass supply constant.
The Carbon Pile was contained In a small black box screwed to a wheelhouse bulkhead and was about 6” x 4” and had a screw for adjustments if required.
Invariably this box used to scream and after fiddling around with the screw without success, found the only way to shut it up was a short short tap with a hammer on the box itself.
However if you had a conscience this made work for yourself and if a compass error was taken at least once a watch, one found oneself taking 3 or 4. This was the early stages of scientific progress in shipping. Or as Radar was also known as Aids to Navigation. Again Aids is not any relation to medical infirmaties . JS

[happy daze john in oz]

There were many things on ships, and other places, that can be either AC or DC.
You just have to be very careful which one you use.

[j.sabourn]

Such as Air Conditioning and Dioxide Conditioning ? JS

[Noel Kelly]

Wasn't the lead singer of AC/DC a Geordie lad from Gateshead.

[Tony Taylor]

Wasn't the lead singer of AC/DC a Geordie lad from Gateshead.

Brian Johnston

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
My first ship had a Gyro as well as the normal one, Easier on t eyes for steering, but if I remember correctly the ticking as it went of course was a pest. LoDes

[j.sabourn]

Forget what it was now but something like a 5 degree snake that is going off course 5 degrees each side of the true course , gave somewhere in the region of 5 miles lost in every 100. ? Used to cause a bit of controversy between the Cheng and 2 mate when the Cheng working out his slip for the days run, that’s why the engine always arrived in port before the rest of the ship ? JS

[John Arton]

Brian Johnston

Tony
Saw him a couple of times in an off licence at the nook, stocking up before going to see his pal John miles in east boldon
Rgds
J.A

[Tony Taylor]

Tony
Saw him a couple of times in an off licence at the nook, stocking up before going to see his pal John miles in east boldon
Rgds
J.A

John, just last week I saw someone who looked like him, but discounted it as he was doing a wheelie through the traffic lights at the VIGILANT.

[happy daze john in oz]

Tony
Saw him a couple of times in an off licence at the nook, stocking up before going to see his pal John miles in east boldon
Rgds
J.A

East Bolden, now there is a place i once knew.
Spent all my childhood holidays there staying with my great aunt in a large house in Langham road backing onto the rail line