Found at estate sale--some kind of surveyor's or construction tool?

[HistoryTeacher]

I couldn't resist getting this interesting object from an estate sale for $4. The fitted leather belt box made it better. I have tried to figure it out but haven't made any headway. Anyone know what this is?
The silver part is aluminum, and the black strip is iron. There is a level in the bar in the center of the rotating disk. The bar has a locking knob on the back and brass fittings inside it.
There is no maker's name but the number 80.422 is on it. The base is 3 7/8" long. It is about 3.5" tall.

Any ideas?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[Back-of-the-boat]

Is the black strip also a magnet. To me it looks to be some kind of angle finder or something for degrees.

 

[tamrock]

Angle indicator. I think that be one you have might be use in surveying or setting structural steel beams at selected angles?. I have customer who's a drill and blast contractor who puts one that looks something like that on his drill feed to select a particular angle to drill a series of blast holes all at the same angle. They make an angle indicator for these track drills, but they're expensive and he said the one like what you have does good enough job for a lot less. It's definitely a precision tool for some kind of application.

 

[Red-Coat]

I love old tools. If you Google terms like "vintage universal all-angle level finder" you'll see lots of similar items... this one for example:



I don't think they had a specific application beyond accurate measurement of angles, with the rotating spirit level allowing you to determine the angle versus "true".

Couldn't find that particular model and the number doesn't seem to be a patent number.

 

[HistoryTeacher]

Is the black strip also a magnet. To me it looks to be some kind of angle finder or something for degrees.

Angle indicator. I think that be one you have might be use in surveying or setting structural steel beams at selected angles?. I have customer who's a drill and blast contractor who puts one that looks something like that on his drill feed to select a particular angle to drill a series of blast holes all at the same angle. They make an angle indicator for these track drills, but they're expensive and he said the one like what you have does good enough job for a lot less. It's definitely a precision tool for some kind of application.

I love old tools. If you Google terms like "vintage universal all-angle level finder" you'll see lots of similar items... this one for example:

View attachment 2036935

I don't think they had a specific application beyond accurate measurement of angles, with the rotating spirit level allowing you to determine the angle versus "true".

Couldn't find that particular model and the number doesn't seem to be a patent number.

Thanks for all the input. It seems I you all have given me the answer now. The bottom iron piece is not magnetic, but I do wonder why that piece is iron and not aluminum like the rest. There is an arrow on the bottom so I think it went into a slot on another part (maybe on a tripod or another tool?)--The bottom is narrow compared to the other "vintage universal all-angle level finders" I am seeing. I may never know exactly how it was used, but now I know what it is. Thanks again all.

I just noticed--on the back of the iron case (I can't seem to get a good picture of it), there is very light writing that appears to be Arabic.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Long shot,could be a "Gunners Quadrant" to set elevation on artillery pieces or ground mount machine guns for indirect fire.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Thanks for all the input. It seems I you all have given me the answer now. The bottom iron piece is not magnetic, but I do wonder why that piece is iron and not aluminum like the rest. There is an arrow on the bottom so I think it went into a slot on another part (maybe on a tripod or another tool?)--The bottom is narrow compared to the other "vintage universal all-angle level finders" I am seeing. I may never know exactly how it was used, but now I know what it is. Thanks again all.

I just noticed--on the back of the iron case (I can't seem to get a good picture of it), there is very light writing that appears to be Arabic.

Do a search for "Gunners Quadrant",you may be surprised!

 

[HistoryTeacher]

Do a search for "Gunners Quadrant",you may be surprised!

Oh wow. I searched on bing and didn't find anything like mine then searched on Google--I think you right on it! I see what you mean. I found two "Chinese Gunners Quadrants" and one on Ebay called a Gunner's Quadrant Clinometer KM-1 Artillery mine-thrower & Case USSR 1938
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353398230428
https://www.apexgunparts.com/gunners-quadrants-gd.html
https://www.apexgunparts.com/chinese-gunners-quadrants-vg.html
Cool! I was hoping it had a military connection!

 

[pepperj]

Oh wow. I searched on bing and didn't find anything like mine then searched on Google--I think you right on it! I see what you mean. I found two "Chinese Gunners Quadrants" and one on Ebay called a Gunner's Quadrant Clinometer KM-1 Artillery mine-thrower & Case USSR 1938
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353398230428
https://www.apexgunparts.com/gunners-quadrants-gd.html
https://www.apexgunparts.com/chinese-gunners-quadrants-vg.html
Cool! I was hoping it had a military connection!

Looks like Crash solved the mystery as it being a gunners quadrant

 

[crashbandicoot]

Oh wow. I searched on bing and didn't find anything like mine then searched on Google--I think you right on it! I see what you mean. I found two "Chinese Gunners Quadrants" and one on Ebay called a Gunner's Quadrant Clinometer KM-1 Artillery mine-thrower & Case USSR 1938
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353398230428
https://www.apexgunparts.com/gunners-quadrants-gd.html
https://www.apexgunparts.com/chinese-gunners-quadrants-vg.html
Cool! I was hoping it had a military connection!

I love it when people take a suggestion and run with it. So many people these days want you to tell them what it is without doing any research themselves and then argue with you when you do tell them.You,re welcome and kudos on a fine discovery.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Looks like Crash solved the mystery as it being a gunners quadrant

Well,I was a gunner once so had a bit of a head start! "Sink me the ship,O master gunner" Alfred Lord Tenneyson. Apropos of nothing maybe,but a rollicking good tale.Read it sometime when you have nothing else to do.It,s on the net for the click of a few keys.

 

[HistoryTeacher]

I love it when people take a suggestion and run with it. So many people these days want you to tell them what it is without doing any research themselves and then argue with you when you do tell them.You,re welcome and kudos on a fine discovery.

Thanks again! I like the mystery and research of an item and try to only ask for help when I am at a dead end. When I was checking out at the estate sale they asked if I knew what it was and I said, "Maybe a surveyor's tool, but definitely my next research project."

 

[crashbandicoot]

Thanks again! I like the mystery and research of an item and try to only ask for help when I am at a dead end. When I was checking out at the estate sale they asked if I knew what it was and I said, "Maybe a surveyor's tool, but definitely my next research project."

Kudos too on being a gentleman and a scholar,not really plentiful these days.