Can anyone here identify....
 

this item and it's use? Thanks Rob
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW-2-1941-Da...item58a42543aa

Plotting duva
 

Hi Rob,
These were often strapped to a tripod leg and used with a Artillery plotting board. More of a trainning room apt than used in the field.
Bloody well made but useless... like Lara Bingle.

Wayne

Wayne,

How were they used? I can think of all sorts of uses for the sight and parallel ruler function but what was its artillery purpose?

Lang

Well made
 

Ha ha, classic! :note:

I have one somewhere for my plotting board... never used it yet and normally leave it behind... as already said... very well made!

Tim

No cartographers here?
 

Rob, it's an open sight alidade. It was used to make topographic maps on a plane table. The idea was you would use the sights to determine the direction of an object, a level to estimate its elevation and stadia measurements to determine its distance. The operator would plot features of interest onto a map. The RCA (your interest I presume) used these in 1st and 2nd Survey RCA.

Here is a more sophisticated similar instrument.

Not being an Ozzie I had to Google Lara Bingle. I must confess I would have more use for her than for the Alidade.... :yappy: :nono: says the wife. :giveup