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To view our current inventory of a rare C. Plath fully adjutable bubble, click here!
This Very Rare Device Has Been
Sold. Thank you!
THE ULTIMATE C.PLATH
HORIZON
- A FULLY ADJUSTABLE BUBBLE HORIZON - NEW!
Fully Adjustable
and Never Used!
This is
a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a brand new, never used C. Plath Bubble Horizon
that has a fully adjustable bubble and a rheostat for adjusting the brightness of the internal lighting system. The trade
name, "DRAGONFLY", design dates back to WW II when these devices were used on surface ships, and submarines. After
cessation of hostilities, Plath did not get back into the sextant business until about 1954, and this version was reintroduced
to the Commercial Market in 1957.
Very few of them were made before they
were superseded by a more simplified version that eliminated the adjustable bubble even though all users of these devices
preferred the fully adjustable versions and felt the new one was a major step back-wards.
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Mounted
on 1983 C. Plath Navistar Classic | |
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Over the years, we have sold more
of the non-adjustable C. Plath Bubble Horizons, including their most recent one which had neither an adjustable bubble or
an adjustable light, than any other dealer, and can state unequivocally that they are all inferior to this design. Even so,
all Plath bubbles are still highly sought after by ocean going navigators and advanced collectors.
The fact that this one is brand new and comes
with the original box it came in thirty four years ago, dated 28 June 1978, makes it a prize, second to none. There should
be no question of its absolutely outstanding flawless condition.
In the photograph below, it is shown alongside the last bubble horizon design made
by C. Plath which has an internal power supply. Like all Plath
bubbles except for the one being offered, the size of the bubble is not adjustable. On July 3, 2008, Ken Gebhart of Celestaire wrote us that the last version was discontinued around 2001, and
sold new for $1,700.00.
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Ca 2000
C. Plath Bubble vis-a-vis a 1957 fully adjustable version |
DIRECTIONS & INSTRUCTION SHEETS: A Plath sheet of instructions in
German and English comes with the device. There also will be a diagram of the internals and a diagram of the geometry of the
optical system. The device is simple to use and provides an artificial horizon using a circular illuminated bubble as a substitute
for a horizon reference. The bubble is centered at the midpoint of the viewing area and the celestial body is brought into
coincidence with the bubble's center. Intensity of the internal light is adjusted by a small knob on the front. Bubble size
is adjusted, by the larger rotary dial on the base of the cylinder on the left. A large bubble is preferred for sun and moon
sights, and a smaller bubble for stars and planets. The ocular lens is adjustable.
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Two pages
instructions in German and English | |
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CONDITION:
New and Unused
MARKINGS:
Sun Shooter (So Ballerspiele) Logo over C. Plath, over Hamburg,
Werk-Nr. 1232, over Bundeswehr, over 6605-12-127-6454
PROVENANCE: Formerly owned by the world's foremost collector of C. Plath contemporary sextants with a specialty in Plath
artificial bubble horizons.
USABLE WITH:
As pictured above, it fits the C. Plath Navistar Classic sextant. With an external battery
supply it will work with Ca 1990 C. Plath sextants, Cassens & Plath, Tamaya, Freiberger, and the Russian CHOT/SNOT.
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Rheostat
center, bubble adjustment to left | |
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THE
SEXTANT PICTURED IS NOT INCLUDED in this offering, but is
SUGGESTED USE: The bubble horizon has a 2 power optical system and a smaller
than normal field of view. The internal dampening mechanism of the bubble is greater than will be found on less costly alternatives,
but requires some practice in getting used to. The Plath, fully adjustable, Bubble Horizon is far superior to all other artificial
horizons and the devices that can only be used for objects with altitudes of less than 60 degrees, and cannot 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 the form being sold, was
issued to U.S. submarines for back-up celestial navigation. Ref. Dutton's Seamanship & Navigation, 12th Edition, Article
2206, page 385.
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Original shipping box for this instrument | |
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C.
PLATH BUBBLE HORIZON SPECIFICATIONS:
Magnification
2 X
4" 1/4 H x 4 1/2" L x 3" W not courting rising piece
Slip-on green filter included
Weight: 1 lbs 1 3/4 oz
It is suited for someone
who can appreciate obtaining a New device and fine sophisticated aspects of its design, and is willing to pay an appropriate
price for this level of C. Plath quality and excellence.
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. Shortly thereafter, C. Plath quit producing sextants. The parent
company has completely liquidated everything including machinery, equipment and spare parts.
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 within the continental United States.
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, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa,
Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.
FLAT
RATE SHIPPING. PACKING & INSURANCE to the 48 contiguous States $40.00
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 credit cards or PayPal accepted on this item.
Never
before have we oferred a C. Plath Bubble Horizon of this design and only three other times have we sold brand new versions
of their less sophisticated models. We doubt that there will ever be another opportunity like this one.
Copyright
2012 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved
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