BAC46

Broome Aircraft Wrecks

1. Sextant: largely intact, frame is a basic triangle with a graduated arc at the base and cross bars extending from each side and the base into the centre. Thin, 3 mm diameter legs support the two base corners while a larger, 14 mm diameter conical leg supports the point. Where the cross bars meet a screw penetrates then extends down to form a centre support leg. On the left side of the frame three circular lenses sit on a horizontal screw. The first is black with no visibility and is fully rotational. The second is a transparent blue and is partially rotational. The third is a transparent green and immovable. These lenses sit in front the horizon mirror frame (glass piece removed). The frame is rectangular (long sides vertical) with the bottom half solid and upper half hollow for visibility. Further along the left side of the frame there are four glass filters. The filters are circular lenses set into square frames which rotate along a single screw. The first two filters a fairly rotational and are dark blue and green. The second two filters are far more stiff and show less visibility. Along the centre of the frame lies the index arm. The arm is circular at the point of the sextant, and swivels along the graduated arc at the base. At the circular point sits the index mirror frame. Like the horizon mirror frame the glass piece has been removed. The index frame’s long sides sit on the horizontal, and the piece is completely solid and held in place by three screws at its back. The other end of the index arm swivels almost the full extent of the graduated arc. It supports a plastic graduated drum, numbered ’0’ to ‘50’, as well as a locking device. At the right base point of the sextant sits the telescope, with the eye piece facing the centre of the sextant and the telescope lens facing out.
2. Index mirror: Glass section removed from index mirror frame.
3. Horizon mirror: Glass section removed from horizon mirror frame.
4. Rubber component: Rubber ring which may have been an eye cushion for the telescope or served a similar function.
5. Fabric washer: small, very soft fabric washer used to protect a fitting. Unsure of purpose in sextant.