Strange item found at militaria show a while back.

[Rudolf Karl]

I picked this up just to see what it was but did not pay near the asking price. Found out later there is a piece missing but that does not really affect its operation.
FWIW there was one guy with a booth that swore he had seen one and it was a mapping device. Also it took about 15 minutes after I got home to find out all there is about it.


Rudy

[Rudolf Karl]

The picture with my finger is to show that it has a mirror also.


Rudy

[davejb]

Any chance of seeing the thing instead of the label!!!!!

[davejb]

Thats BETTER

[banksy]

Very nice ! I would like this I'n my collection !

[davejb]

Aircraft direction indicator?

[Eric Zentner]

Very interesting item Rudy how do you use it?

Eric

[big ned]

Hi Rudy,

It's a German hiker's compass, here's a bit of info.

Germany (ca. 1930-1940), model FAVORIT / D.R.G.M. (reg. trade mark).
Folding binocular with sundial. A device shaped like a bottle opener serves to lock in folded position the small spring loaded lenses.
User's instructions for the sundial-compass: The dial shows the hours of the longest possible summer day in Northern Germany (i.e from 3 in the morning to 10 in the evening) together with the cardinal points. To orientate the compass, one has to rotate the arrow so that the current hour (indicated by a watch) appears in the arrow's fork end. One turns then the compass with the arrow head pointing towards the sun. Example: at noon, the sun is in the South.

Yours appears to be missing one of the spring loaded lenses (you look through them the same as a pair of opera glasses). Nice piece though!

Regards, Ned.

[Rudolf Karl]

The thing actually works pretty good. Optics are better than I would have expected.


FOLDING SUNDIAL WITH BINOCULAR

COMBINED INSTRUMENT: COMPASS (based on the sun's position) & BINOCULAR
Origin: Germany (ca. 1930-1940), model FAVORIT / D.R.G.M. (reg. trade mark).
Folding binocular with sundial. A device shaped like a bottle opener serves to lock in folded position the small spring loaded lenses.
User's instructions for the sundial-compass: The dial shows the hours of the longest possible summer day in Northern Germany (i.e from 3 in the morning to 10 in the evening) together with the cardinal points. To orientate the compass, one has to rotate the arrow so that the current hour (indicated by a watch) appears in the arrow's fork end. One turns then the compass with the arrow head pointing towards the sun. Example: at noon, the sun is in the South.
Like on all other opera glasses (shown in the category OTHER COMPASSES), there is a mirror on the face opposite to the dial.

Rudy

[Rudolf Karl]

lol ... Seems we crossed our posts Ned. Yes that is the part I mentioned as missing. It was not obvious at the time because nothing appeared broken. It's only held in by two prongs so if that area were to be pried just a little it would have come out. I'd like it complete but I don't do the opera that often.

Rudy