This is a long rectangular box containing 11 metal compass dividers. These are wrapped in wax paper and contained in a cloth drawstring bag. Each divider is 18 cm long and has hinged legs ending in sharp points.
Accession Number: 2012.ast.13 (DAA-0104)
Alternative Name: Compass divider
Metal: Iron Alloy, Cardboard, Cloth, Waxed Paper
Original label on top of box: “The GENUINE AND ORIGINAL IRWIN BITS, MADE IN U.S. of A., THE IRWIN A[…]IT COMPANY, WILMINGTON, OHIO, U.S. of A.”
On the side of the box: “62-T 17/16 1/4 Dozen
MAINBOR Auger Bits
Made in U.S.A.
The IRWIN Bit
Reg. U.S. Pat Off.”
Written in pen on the purple moving label: “dept.”
Paper label attached to original box: “24 dividers, Sept. 1947.”
On wax paper in light pencil: “13B/68.”
On cloth bag, tag with: “Royal Canadian Air Force, Technical Service Stores, Ottawa.”
On 10 of the dividers: “R.C.A.F. Ref. No. 13B/68.” Machine engraved on one of these is “152”, on another is hand engraved “R. Pease.”
On the other divider: “Charvos Inc. U.S.A.”
Box: Height = 5, Width = 26.5, Length = 6.5, Dividers: Height = 18 x Width = 1.5 x Length = 0.4
To measure, transfer or mark off distances – esp. on maps or star charts.
Good: The box is not original to the dividers; the cloth bag appears to be. The box is in poor condition, with the label torn and damaged in multiple places. THe box is worn at the corners. A moving label ahs been stuck to the exterior of the box.
Associated Instruments:
Royal Canadian Air Force (10 dividers), and Charvos Inc., USA (1 divider).
Date of Manufacture: c. 1945
University of Toronto Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Additional Information and References:
This object appears to have some association with the RCAF, probably during WW2.
<a href=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/166522/divider>”Divider.”</a> Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. [15/10/2018]
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