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This Fine Bubble Horizon Has
Been Sold.
Thank you!
UNUSED C. PLATH NAVISTAR Bubble Horizon ~ Mint Ca 1983
We
are the premier source for all versions of the Plath Navistar premium sextants and have sold more than any other dealer in
the world!
We have sold numerous examples of the Plath Navistar Classic and it derivatives
through the 1991 version which had a rectangular whole horizon horizon mirror and was made just before Plath sextant production
ceased. Of this group, we have seen none in combination with a whole horizon mirror and a bubble horizon with a 4 x 40 star
scope. The mirrors fitted are also 2 mm larger than on any other we've measured. Based on personal inspection we conclude
it was purchased by someone demanding only the finest and then never used. Consequently, we classify it as in flawless "Collector Quality" condition.
This is the 19th Navistar we've offered. In our opinion, they are the finest of the contemporary sextants.
They will be equally desirable at sea or in a collection of only the best, and should only appreciate in value.
C. PLATH ARTIFICIAL HORIZON: The early versions
which date back to 1936 when Plath made the Admiral Cago Cuthino airship sextant, and before as Plath grew their CelNav business
and set a standard of precise engineering and technical excellence. Through the course of WW II, this included stand alone
bubble sextants and attachments such as the one pictured on the left below. During the War, and directly thereafter, these
units had the ability to increase and decrease the size of the bubble to suit the bodies being targeted. After the War, the
first bubble horizons had this adjustable feature, but it was an expensive feature that due to lessening demand and increased
unit cost, resulted in it being eliminated along with other costly features in those that followed.
Bubble horizon post WW II Ca 1950 | |
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The unit being sold here which is pictured at the top of the page mounted on the
sextant has the prestigious DHI approval label and most of the features of the WW II more expensive bubble horizons which
include a 3 power scope with adjustable ocular lens that can function as the primary scope, the ability to center the bubble
on the grid for more accurate sights, internal lighting and rugged heavy duty construction. A supplementry sun shade is included
and the internal light is adjustable. The Ca 1990 Plath bubble attchement was a low cost compromise and was introduced near
the end of Plath's involvement with sextants.
There is no instruction booklet,
but the device is simple to use and provides an artificial horizon using paired cross-hairs giving a horizontal and vertical
reference. The bubble is centered at the midpoint of the cross-hairs and the celestial body is brought into coincidence with
the bubble's center. The Plath Bubble Horizon is far superior to a normal artificial horizon which can only be used for objects
with altitudes of less than 60 degrees and can not be used for twilight sights. This makes it ideally suited for land based
training applications, for land navigation and for use at sea from ships large enough to be a stable platform. Interestingly,
in the 1970-80's this device, in an earlier form, was issued to U.S. submarines for back-up celestial navigation.
Ref. Dutton's Seamanship & Navigation, 12th Edition, Article 2206, page 385.
CERTIFICATE OF ACCURACY:There are no papers
with this instrument, but we have tested it thoroughly and can guarantee it is in perfect condition with ZERO index and side
error. Based on our proprietary register of C. Plath instruments we can also date it by its serial number, 63145, as being
made in 1983.
Perfect
Whole horizon mirror | |
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Special micrometer & vernier | |
Navistar imprint & serial number | |
It has a flaming Mahogany wood case with energy absorbing
green liner. The sextant sits in the case with its handle up, ready for use, a handy feature. On its index arm is the Deutche
Hydrographic Institute seal of approval.
The Deutche
Hydrographic Institute stamp of approval elevates it to the highest level because it indicates this instrument was tested
by DHI, and found to meet the more stringent standards for commercial use. Hence, this sextant sold for more originally then
the regular Navistar Classic.
The Navistar
Classic was the top of the Plath line and was made in limited quantities, and was manufactured with a guaranteed non-adjustable
instrument error of 10 arc seconds or less. It sold for a premium over all its other sextants. For example, almost 30 years
ago, they sold for over $1000.00, and as recently as 2001, the price had risen to $4000.00.
With 4 x 40 star scope fitted | |
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Don't confuse this model with the similarly named “Navistar Professional“
which. in our opinion is the worst sextant made by Plath or the “Navistar Traditional“
which was made shortly before sextant production ended. That instrument has an error up to 20 arc seconds.
You can identify the “Navistar Classic” by these clues:
1. It has a special micrometer drum 2. The Navistar brand imprint on the arc. 3. The vernier has six indents and reads to 10 seconds of arc. 4. Comes with a fine wood case with a green absorbent liner, 5. And originally came with an instruction booklet, and Plath's certification
with matching numbers.
Some like this one have a label from the Deutche Hydrographic Institute dated 2/1/78 certifying them
for commercial service. All these features are present with this instrument except the certificate, and the manual included
is a photocopy.
For the seven year period from 1978 through
1985 only 1693 Navistar Classics were made. That is only 211 per year to satisfy worldwide demand.
CONDITION: Appears to never have been used.
Complete with originally fitted Plath whole horizon mirror and an artificial bubble horizon. These two expensive options are
rarely seen. It operates like a well oiled piece of machinery, with NO faults
even minor ones. Both mirrors shows as NEW. All the chrome hardware sparkles, and the illumination works. The bronze arc shows
"as new". All the paint is well bonded and looks fresh. There is no index or side error. There is no certificate which is
not uncommon, and unnecessary in C.Plath sextants since the Navistar Classics were made to a tested accuracy of 10 arc seconds
or less. For practical purposes this makes them error free in use. The flame grain Mahogany, no lock, case case has some minor
scuff and other marks from handling, otherwise it to is perfect. Overall, it is one of the finest Navistar sextants we've
ever oferred.
Sturdy Flaming Grain Mahogany case | |
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This C. Plath Navistar Classic
requires someone who can appreciate the fine points of a sextant, and is willing to pay an appropriate price for this level
of quality and excellence. It is suitable for a collector or for use at sea .
STAR
RATING: This fine Collector Quality instrument rates 5 PLUS STARS
QUALIFICATIONS:
We are one of the few company's still selling navigation instruments that know anything about them. For purposes of judging
whether Joel's opinion counts, he was the editor of the chapter on sextants of the 1977 Edition of "Bowditch", The American
Practical Navigator, NAVPUB 9; a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Navigation Symposium, 1975 -1978; the author of a book on
marine sextants, Cornell Maritime Press,1975, and the founding president of Nautech Maritime Corporation which partnered with
Tamaya of Japan in the introduction of the MS 733 Spica, the MS 833, Jupiter, MS 933 Venus sextants and the famous NC-2 navigation
computer, in the U.S. market. Joel is a retired Master Mariner, and held a U.S. Navy "D" Qualification as a Senior Skipper
- Oceans. For six years he was a Varsity Offshore Sailing Team Coach at the U.S.
Naval Academy.
Some of his memberships have included the: Association
of Naval Aviation, Silver Wings, The Tailhook Association, Naval Academy Sailing Squadron, McCampbell's Aces Squadron, Naval
Historical Foundation, and the Naval Order of the United States.
COMPANY HISTORY: In brief, Carl Plath started manufacturing sextants, in addition to other nautical
products, in Hamburg Germany in 1862 though the purchase of the David Filby instrument company though the company's origin
dates back to 1837. As a result WW II, C.Plath was dismantled completely by the occupation forces. Around 1950, various prohibitions
were lifted, and C. Plath was allowed to begin production again of sextants and other nautical instruments. Also in 1949,C.Plath
was offered a gyrocompass patent and in 1951 the first gyrocompass designed to this patent was presented to the public. C.Plath
progressed from the role of instrument maker to that of a modern marine navigation equipment manufacturer. In the following
years the product range was expanded by many more modern designs such as autopilots, speed logs, radio direction finders,
etc.
In 1962
C.Plath was acquired by Litton Industries, a large American concern.The C.Plath North American Division was set up in 1978
in College Park near Washington. 1996 saw the introduction of the world's first fiber-optic solid-state gyrocompass by C.Plath.
The first ever gyrocompass with no moving parts. Sperry Marine was formed in 1997 with the combination of C.Plath, Decca Marine
and Sperry Marine with more organizational changes yet to come. After 163 years, C.Plath changes its name to Sperry Marine
in May 2000. In 2001 Sperry Marine becomes part of the Northrop Grumman Corporation. In the 1990's Plath came out with a series
of new sextant designs with overlapping designs and confusing names. They seemed to have lost their way. Shortly thereafter,
C. Plath quit producing sextants. The parent company has completely liquidated everything including machinery, equipment and
spare parts.
C.
PLATH NAVISTAR CLASSIC SPECIFICATIONS:
Measuring
Range: -5 to 125 degrees Telescope: 4 x 40 Coated optics Frame: Bronze
with black enamel paint and bronze arc. Micrometer Drum and Vernier Scale: reads to 10 seconds of
arc Index Mirror: 59 x 44 mm. aluminized on the rear side. Horizon Mirror:
59mm diameter. Shades: 4 for index mirror 3 for horizon
mirror
Weight sextant: 4.2 lbs with
4 x 40 scope. Bubble horizon 10 1/2 oz. Weight case 6 lbs.
INCLUDED ARE:
-
1 C. Plath Sextant frame
-
1 4 x 40 star scope
-
1 Plath artificial bubble horizon
-
1 Mirror adjustment tool
-
1
Varnished Flaming Mahogany sextant case
-
1 Copy of Navistar manual
STANDARD FLAT RATE SHIPPING, INSURANCE & PACKING to 48
contiguous States, $40.00
OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO
NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage,
within three days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email
authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges are included in this offer if the error is due to our fault.
International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda,
British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France,
Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico,
Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United
Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.
ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT
are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. No checks from
overseas buyers, no credit cards or PayPal accepted on this item.
This
is the 19th Navistar Classic or one of its variations that we have offered since 2007. In our opinion, they are the finest
of the contemporary sextants. They will be equally desirable at sea or in a collection of only the finest.
Copyright
2011 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved
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