Cassens Plath Micrometer Sextant (Trommelsextant), Serial Number 32572, circa 1951–1953
A fine micrometer sextant — a Trommelsextant — manufactured by Cassens Plath (C. Plath) of Hamburg, Germany. Serial number 32572 dates the instrument to approximately 1951–1953, and it bears the distinct "C. Plath Hamburg" engraved mark alongside the micrometer drum. It is fitted with a 4 x 40 telescope.
The sextant is brass with a black powder coating and appears to be in very good overall condition. The arc is divided from -5 to 125 degrees, with black engravings on brass. The mirrors and neutral shade-glasses are in perfect condition. The sextant with scope weighs just shy of five pounds.
It is housed in its original machine-dovetailed mahogany box with brass corner guards and a brass handle on the front; the key to the case lock is included. The sextant in its box weighs 10 1/2 pounds. The box measures 7" H x 12" W x 12" D. The sextant retains its original brushes and sextant adjustment wrench, and the C. Plath, Hamburg maker's tag — removed from the box — is included and comes with the sextant. One honest note: the Bakelite battery handle is missing its removable top cover.
Attached inside the box lid is a Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad, dated 8/19/1974.
Also included is a 1970 Swiss-made Dynameter Supermeter stopwatch, in its original cardboard box.
Provenance: the sextant belonged to Captain Michael Wholey, captain aboard the U.S. containership "Export Patriot" in the 1990s until she was scrapped. The "Export Patriot" (IMO 7306764) was built in 1973 by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, for American Export Lines; following the line's bankruptcy in 1978, the vessel and her fleet were acquired by Farrell Lines. She arrived at Alang, India, on 13 January 1998 for scrapping.
Survives in good condition and ready to go back to sea!
