H. Hughes & Son, Ltd. London "HUSUN" Sextant

A 1930’s brass mariner’s navigational sextant produced by Henry Hughes & Son, Ltd. in a classic “3 circle” frame design. Features a graduated silver arc and brass venier, brass frame and fittings with traces of the original black on various parts of the sextant surfaces. Engraved on arc "Henry Hughes & Son Ltd., 59 Fenchurch St. London E.C.". Above is the serial number 18280.

An exceptional maritime instrument surviving in good working order, a complete set including four scopes, 2 scope filters and even a rare matching pair of binoculars! The silver scale is calibrated -10 to +135 degrees and the silver vernier scale, marked from 0 to 10 allows a reading down to a very accurate 10 arc seconds. The pinch type tangent allows for quick sight, then fine adjustment of the reading using the micrometer read-out. The sextant has four shades for the index mirror, and three shades for the horizon mirror, all surviving in good order. The sextant, scopes and accessories are housed in it's original machine dovetailed mahogany box with brass carrying handle on one side. The box lock and keep are still intact and retains the lock key. Also retains the brass escutcheon plate and non-engraved brass plate on the box top. The box measures 10 by 11 by 5 5/8 inches The mahogany handle, index arm clamp, and swing arm light are complete, but the light is currently not in working order. The telescope adjusts up and down by turning a knob on the side. The sextant and scopes retain (in part) some of the original black painted surface. The binoculars have clear, unscratched lens, but the adjustment screw is broken and needs to be replaced to operate.

The original HUSUN inspection certificate is attached to the interior box top. The label states: THIS SEXTANT BY H. HUGHES & SON, LONDON. THE SEXTANT NO. 18280 of 6 1/2 INCH RADIUS TO 10 INCH HAS BEEN EXAMINED AND THE FOLLOWING CORRECTNESS (CORRECTIONS 0) THE SHADES AND MIRRORS ARE SATISFACTORY AND TELESCOPES AS FOLLOWS: 2 ½ X, 5 X, 9 X. Dated 10/2/34 and signed O D Perkins. A second application ofr and certificate of registration for taking abroad for personal use states: one sextant No. 18280 (HUSUN) complete set dated 4/2/58 for owner Alex. C. McKinney, Salem, New York and examined on 4/2/58 by G. L. Wiggins (inspector), port of New Orleans, LA.

A third label is attached inside the box lid states: NEGUS NAUTICAL INSTRUMENTS, 60 PEARL STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. Written in pencil: M-1060 M-1372. Negus was the company that sold this instrument in the United States. Rare to find a complete set of this caliber!