✅ SOLVED Some sort of Navigation aid?

[ortoch]

This device is approximately 2 feet tall with a cast iron base and stand. I havent seen it in person but a fellow treasure hunter in Ohio discovered this behind an abandoned warehouse. It says "Stansi Made in the USA" at the bottom signifying it was made by the Stansi Scientific Company which was bought out in 1967 by Fisher Scientific so its at least 50 years old. No additional markings on back just what you see in the photo. Dont want to sway anyone with any of my shots in the dark but if you know of this device or one like it please let me know if he might have found something unique!

-Ort

 

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[The_Piratess]

No it's definitely not a navigational device. I believe it is an educational teaching device of some kind. The Stansi Company used to be located in Chicago, Illinois.

 

[ortoch]

teaching device? could it be aviation related? I cant find much on the company other than what I wrote above and what you mentioned about it being in chicago back in its day. I would really love to know exactly what it is if anyone has any info on the company. They seem to have made quite a large selection of items over the years so finding something like it has been rather fruitless so far.

 

[The_Piratess]

The Stansi Company was more well know for making teaching devices. To me it looks geometry or mathematical related. Could also be Physics probability related too. Here's a link to another Stansi learning model. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/stansi-scientific-co-school-learning-77483193 If you can find a patent number on it anywhere that would help to identify exactly what it is. It should have one on it somewhere. Hope this helps.

 

[ortoch]

I asked him to check it more thouroughly for markings or a patent number. The stand it's in makes me wonder what could be taught with it since it comes out so far it would block anyone on the sides from seeing it. I'm very perplexed by this.

 

[Geobound]

It looks like it could be a part of a goniophotometer, but I'm not positive.

This would be a machine used in the aiding of creating photometric files for the lighting community.

These machines help determine the distribution of light out of a given light source, thus the reason for the 4 quadrants of each 90 degree angle.

Then a computer file of the light source is generated, and in conjunction with a lighting program illuminance levels can be calculated in a given space.

You would have to look into it more, but that's my guess.

 

[DCMatt]

Laboratory teaching apparatus used to teach Snell's law, also known as the law of refraction.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Here is a similar one from another company.

Vintage Welch Sargent Lab Light Refraction Optical Disk Apparatus | eBay

 

[Mackaydon]

Hartl Optical Disc | United Scientific Supplies
Don...

 

[ortoch]

DCMatt you are my hero thank you very much good sir! Interesting reading on this device I never would have guessed it was to teach refraction.