I inherited this transit from my civil engineer father. I recently had some simple measurements to do, do support my robot hobby (crude survey of my road for path planing). Everything is fairly self explanatory with the exception of one accessory. Is in a tube that presses on to the front lens optic. It is not the sun shade as I have one of those as well. Inside this tube is a plate mounted at what looks like 45 degrees. The plate has a hole it it.
I suspect perhaps there was a bit of 1/2 silvered mirror in it so the operator could see a distance target inline with the lens and also something at 90 degrees. But since this accessory only presses on the telescope housing, it can't maintain tight tolerances. Any idea what this was/is for?
I really had hoped is was to allow you to shot the sun/Polaris when it was high in the sky, but this just does seem possible.
Any ideas?
Just a guess. Crosshair illumator. For low light conditions.
A little light near that area, would be reflected down the scope.
Nate
If you've ever done night work, (no heat waves, among other advantages), it makes sense.
N
Nate is correct.?ÿ
Thank you so much. I figured some sort of spy look around the corner trick, had not considered I would be shining light into that port!
And why did they just not add an LED illumination back in 1941? 😉
I went out last night to shoot Polaris to get a true north reference. Without the reflector, I was unable to see the cross hairs. Using the reflector and shining a red night vision safe flashlight I could see the star and the cross hair! Very nice but I think I will mount a red LED with a small battery case to the reflector. That would free up a hand that would be useful for other things.
Thank you again!
