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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw, wood inlay, compass point or sextant?

« on: June 05, 2010, 10:54:58 am »

That sounds like a good guess, actually.  I live near the Peabody Essex museum in Salem, MA and I think maybe they might be able to ell me more about it.  Everyone here has been so helpful.  I love all of the ideas.  Any other insights would be very welcome!

-Sean

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw, wood inlay, compass point or sextant?

« on: June 04, 2010, 09:19:07 pm »

Continued...

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw, wood inlay, compass point or sextant?

« on: June 04, 2010, 09:18:15 pm »

Continued...

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw, wood inlay, compass point or sextant?

« on: June 04, 2010, 09:17:05 pm »

Wayward and everyone else.  Than you so much for your interest.  I have already learned a lot about this family heirloom which is mysterious to me.  Here are some additional photos with details and a ruler for scale.  The major marks are not inches, they are smaller.   The minor curved marks are smaller than centimeters.  I hope these additional photos are interesting to you.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw, wood inlay, compass point or sextant?

« on: June 04, 2010, 12:40:33 pm »

Yes Cogar!  It is 12 segments, exactly - each divided by 4.  That information is so helpful.  I will also try to contact the compassmuseum as talesofthesevenseas suggested.  Thank you so much for spending time to look at it.  If there is interest from anyone else on the board I can take some macro shots and post it.  Any other thoughts would be very helpful.  Thanks.

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Antique Questions Forum / Scrimshaw, wood inlay, compass point or sextant?

« on: June 04, 2010, 08:17:38 am »

This is some type of navigation or drawing tool passed down in my family from my grandfather.  It seems to be made of bone (or ivory) with a carved wooden inlay.  The bone is carved and the straight measurements are marked at 1 inch intervals (divided into 10 spaces).  The measurements on the curved section is marked in 11 segments, each divided by 4.  The piece pivots and the curved part slides nicely through a space in the straight edge.  The pivot pin seems to be made out of metal but is is very small.  One of the straight sides has a small hole is the very bottom where is looks like something could be inserted.

Does anyone have any idea what this might be?  Does it look like it would be really old?  My grandfather and mother have both passed away and I am not sure who else to ask.  Thank you so much for any help you can provide.

Thanks again,
Sean