Author Topic: what is this? (Read 2852 times)

chaz · « **on:** 26 January 2015, 10:38:28 pm »

without googling it have you any idea what this was used for, it dates from WW2, I'm selling it on ebay and someone has told me what it is, I thought it was out of an aircraft but it's not. Sorry but no prize for guessing.

THE ANSWER IS..................A BARRAGE BALLOON WINCH GAUGE BUT DOES IT RED LINE AT 800 FEET PER MIN. ON THE WAY UP OR ON THE WAY DOWN? THAT I DON'T KNOW.

tex · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 January 2015, 10:47:53 pm »

Not sure, it's got the air ministry stamp, so r.a.f, fpm, ? Feet per minute air speed indicator? Or height

lew600fazer · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 January 2015, 10:48:04 pm »

Is it for measuring Vacumn and pressure in Milli Bars?

richfzs · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 January 2015, 10:54:00 pm »

I would have gone with it being rate of ascent / descent - but if its not out of an aircraft? Submarine doesn't seem likely, with AM marked like that, so a bit stumped!

chaz · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 January 2015, 10:59:00 pm »

feet per min. x10, and ascent/descent are right but not air speed, it never left the ground?

Exupnut · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 January 2015, 10:59:51 pm »

As tex said feet per minute gauge.... Mostly used on landings....I have that reading on my flight sim

dazza · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 January 2015, 11:23:55 pm »

Definitely submarine, I used to live in one, a yellow one. In fact, at one time, we all used to live in one.

Hang on a minute

I can feel a song coming on

mtread · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 January 2015, 11:29:36 pm »

It's from a Moto Guzzi Surrenderi motorcycle, which like all Italian WW2 motorbikes had 4 reverse gears as well as 4 forward ones. Hence the backwards and forwards speedometer ......

Frosties · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 January 2015, 11:41:18 pm »

Quote from: chaz on 26 January 2015, 10:59:00 pm

feet per min. x10, and ascent/descent are right but not air speed, it never left the ground?

Barrage balloon rate of height/climb indicator.

chaz · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 January 2015, 11:48:27 pm »

Barrage balloon Control Gauge

Very unusual Wartime gauge used to measure the rate of climb and descent of a barrage balloon. This was attached to the winch vehicle.

you're right Frosties

richfzs · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 January 2015, 11:48:51 pm »

Frosties, see where you're coming from, but surely you just check how much line you'd rolled off the winch? They were unmanned, controlled from the ground?

Edit: ah ok, Just seen chazs reply. Good call!

Frosties · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 January 2015, 11:52:10 pm »

Feck me.

I initially thought it was off a sub until i realised the gauge was x10 scale.

Honestly, why would the rate of a barrage balloon going up or down matter at all

I'd be thinking the same as Rich to be honest.....i.e. HOW FOOKIN HIGH IS THE BASTID THING

[size=78%] [/size]

Exupnut · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 January 2015, 12:02:16 am »

The connector turns so it's not operated by pressure ....that rules out fathoms.....or anything of the sea

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 January 2015, 10:14:47 am »

Speedo from an Itallian (or French) tank.
They were designed to go faster in reverse.

bri h · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 January 2015, 11:22:33 am »

fpm stands for fun per mile its retro fitted to mighty thous and is negative or positive depending on roads/ traffic etc.

locksmith · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 January 2015, 12:23:33 pm »

Maybe the odometer type digits gave the height?

imax · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 January 2015, 02:17:31 pm »

Interesting to note it is deemed safe to go faster in one direction

unfazed · « **Reply #17 on:** 27 January 2015, 05:55:40 pm »

Is it an air speed and height indicator of an Air Ship?

Ebme Geek · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 January 2015, 06:44:14 pm »

Quote from: imax on 27 January 2015, 02:17:31 pm

Interesting to note it is deemed safe to go faster in one direction

Uhhm : 800fpm = 9.1mph 1400fpm = 15.9 mph

Exupnut · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 January 2015, 06:25:44 pm »

Nice post chaz.

noggythenog · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 January 2015, 06:27:56 pm »

Ive seen these before ya dummies

Luggage scales innit