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Old 17-11-2021, 07:13   #1
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Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

I picked this Sextant up 20 years ago at a very high-end Auction house out of the Atlanta area. I never knew anything about them before bidding and have generally learned little since. The sextant has been a safe queen since the day I brought it home. Recently I decided to sell it so I placed it on eBay. Over the years I've sold a lot of things on eBay. This item took off the day I put it up surging up to $400 which is extremely rare on the first day. Even more, alerting was I had 3 people messaging me to end the auction for specific amounts. All attempting to obviously panic buy but trying to sound down their anticipation.

So now I'm sitting here thinking I've got to find out what and why the commotion here. Feel like I'm about to get suckered a good but if I don't.

The only thing I can gather is from the words written on the Mahogany box, "Ohio". Given the age of the sextant, I'm assuming this to be USS Ohio WWI. Beyond that or if even that I'm just guessing.

Can anyone here help tell me anything here? Value?

Appreciate all your answers
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Old 17-11-2021, 07:15   #2
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

Few more pics
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Old 17-11-2021, 13:32   #3
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

Interesting.


You have what is known as a "double frame" or "pillar" sextant. Similar to the ones made by Edward Troughton in London. It was [and is] not uncommon for instrument sellers to put their own name on a sextant made by someone else. This wasn't done to deceive, it was just a common practice. Therefore, it is possible that yours is actually a Troughton. Or not.


In any case, it's a fine historical example. However, I'm also surprised it has generated so much interest.



I recommend you post about this on NavList. If anyone would have information on this particular sextant, it would be the members there.


Cheers!
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Old 17-11-2021, 18:23   #4
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

BTW: The mirrors and shades on your sextant look to be in remarkably good condition - which is rare for any older instrument. You also appear to have all of the accessories. And if the arc (the silver portion with the graduated scale) and the vernier are in good, readable condition I would emphasize all of that in the listing along with some good detail photos of each.

If it were mine, I wouldn't accept less than a couple grand. Also, there are probably a few museums which would like to have such a nice example in their collection.
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Old 17-11-2021, 18:37   #5
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

i'm really surprised there is no makers mark / name and serial number engraved on it. in my experience this is universal on sextants

this makes me wonder if it might be an early japanese / indian copy ?

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Old 17-11-2021, 23:45   #6
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

I'll go with Chrisr, not having a makers name & serial # is a good indication it's an Asian copy, India would be my guess as Japanese would have a serial # for sure.

I think about $500 would be a good selling price, but if you really market it more is possible.

YMMV
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Old 18-11-2021, 00:34   #7
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

I have in store an ancient sextant, that I usedsuccessfully for a few years until SAT NAV's appeared followed by GPS's.

It has "re-engraved 1902 ..... somebody (?) Fenchurch St. London". The main problem with it was that optics were not as good as modern sextants and this problem may arise from the use of achromatic doublets in the lenses. This is where two lens with different refractive indices are glued together to reduce the dispersion of white light into the colours of the rainbow (i.e. a - chromatic, meaning no rainbows from point sources of white light). The older type of glues used on the doublets were susceptible to organic decay making the view a bit hazy. The same problem may occur with optical devices from WW2.
The half mirror was also in need of repair as the silver or mercury backing was not perfect.

Otherwise the old sextant was accurate and functional with very little "offset" on the scale. The sextant was a gift but I can still remember the pain paying for the sight reduction tables.
I saw a similar model in a maritime museum at Geraldton Wester Australia (1980). Since then I have seen a good replica in a tourist shop. Made in India.

The provenance of your sextant is probably the really important issue. If you can find with good assurance, the name of the vessel or the original owner then you may have a really valuable item.

A long shot is to ascertain the wood used on the box and its carpentry. India probably did not have access to English Oak etc. Maybe taking the sextant to a naval museum and asking questions may help. After all, early sextants were really important instruments which governed navigation for many decades.
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Old 18-11-2021, 01:27   #8
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisr View Post
i'm really surprised there is no makers mark / name and serial number engraved on it. in my experience this is universal on sextants

this makes me wonder if it might be an early japanese / indian copy ?

cheers,
My sentiments exactly. Never seen real unit without details engraved.
Usually there will also be a paper certificate inside the cover, but this may get lost.
The colour of the material also suggests a copy.

I have a copy bought in Portobello market (London) - paid around $100 in today's prices.
Real old unit would fetch anything from $1,000 upwards.
I would suggest you check your instrument for what it actually is to avoid false advertising.
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Old 18-11-2021, 01:51   #9
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

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Originally Posted by billgewater View Post
It has "re-engraved 1902 ..... somebody (?) Fenchurch St. London".

Henry Hughes & Son traded on Fenchurch St. at that time.
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Old 18-11-2021, 09:20   #10
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

I have what appears to be a very similar sextant that was given to me as a birthday present many years ago. There is a signure engraved on the arc "Eigenes Fabrikat."

The box has a sticker on the inside lower left side that reads 'MAX KUNER CO. NAUTICAL
AND SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS 804 FIRST AVEUVE SEATTLE with a number N 6471.

the wooden box, which is in pretty rough condition, ha s number 29391.

Once I get someone (granddaughter?) to show me how to upload pictures I will try that.

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Old 18-11-2021, 10:27   #11
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

I think you are right as to the sextant's origin. I have one that looks just like it. A friend gave it to me many years ago. In the case was a certificate dated 1942. I assume that this was when it was made or the last time it was certified as accurate. Thousands of these were made during World War II. It looked in very good condition but I took it to a shop in Seattle where they had a rebuild and repair expert. He told me I would be better off buying a more modern one that he had already serviced and up graded.
I would like to learn how to use one but at my age (78) I probably won't be doing any more ocean crossings where I might need a backup to my electronic backups to my main electronic nav system. So it just sits in its mahogany box that I refinished with several coats of varnish.
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Old 18-11-2021, 11:06   #12
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

I am a little hesitant about this post.

He says " This item took off the day I put it up surging up to $400 which is extremely rare on the first day. "

However a look at his post on ebay shows the current bid at $356 and the bid history shows:
14 nov starting bid $40 high bid $100
15 nov high bid $288
16 nov high bid $330
17 nov high bid $355
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Old 18-11-2021, 12:38   #13
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

My sextant is a Russian one. It seemed highly inaccurate until I remembered about daylight saving!
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Old 19-11-2021, 18:19   #14
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

Interesting,

Unfortunately I can’t give you a good idea of the value. What people will pay for a collectable antique, I couldn’t guess.
Value as a usable sextant, not much.
It’s a nice looking vernier sextant probably pre war,
Unfortunately the most most important part appears to be missing, the test certificate with name of manufacture date, and errors.
If this was present it would be worth way more, probably as suggested over 1000.
Good point, actually, it’s not been kept polished, polish wears away the scale,
What the Ohio means? Who knows, a ship called Ohio or owned by a guy from Ohio.
Interesting, I don’t think I would bother to bid without the certificate.

Might be worth your while taking it to expert, who could identify more info.
As stated earlier, it should have a number engraved into it. Which would match the test certificate. Along with a manufacturer or Brand Name.
The Brand name and no would give a good idea of when made.
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Old 20-11-2021, 02:59   #15
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Re: Needing some help on an Antique Sextant

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Originally Posted by captmikem View Post
I am a little hesitant about this post.

He says " This item took off the day I put it up surging up to $400 which is extremely rare on the first day. "

However a look at his post on ebay shows the current bid at $356 and the bid history shows:
14 nov starting bid $40 high bid $100
15 nov high bid $288
16 nov high bid $330
17 nov high bid $355
Bingo. This thread is a thinly veiled ad
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