( 1st )  adapted from:
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MARITIME EXCHANGE MUSEUM              http://www.lighthouselens.com

WWII Ship Navigational Pelorus Dial by Lionel Corporation.

This navigational instrument is called a  " P E L O R U S "  which
is used  to take  relative bearings  in determining  a vessels
position. Research states that such a unit was furnished to battle-
ships, cruisers, gun boats, and destroyers during WWII. A Pelorus
was usually placed at each end of the bridge.

This instrument appears to be made of a heavy weight metal and
features a clean and protected black & white card, secured under
the approx. 8.5 inch Pelorus dial glass with the words "MADE BY
THE LIONEL CORPORATION, NEW YORK" The dial itself is graduated in
degrees to conform to the compass card. Two vanes, which appear
to be in very good working order, are present for taking bow and
beam bearings.

The word Pelorus comes from the name of the guide who directed
Hannibal's army from Carthage to Rome in 218 B.C. This outstanding
example consists of a compass rose with North as the zero indicator
of an 8 pointed star with the cardinal points having directional
coordinates "lettered" that are further subdivided by diamond and
arrow shaped markings which divides the circle into 32 points, each
of 11 1/4 degrees. The outer two circles are in increments of one
degree, with a notation each ten degrees. Originally, it was
designed to be mounted in a pedestal on the vessel's bridge or
housed in a case. There are two sighting vanes which are aimed at
a terrestrial object with the bearing read off the compass card.
These bearings are compared to the vessel's compass heading which
then gives the magnetic bearing to the object. Bearings of two
objects, taken sequentially, will fix the vessel's position.
Similar observations of a rising or setting sun when on the prime
vertical allow for determining compass error.

( 2nd )  adapted from:
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WORTHPOINT                    http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia

A US Navy World War II Illuminated Pelorus Compass Rose, made by
Lionel, was used on a warship for taking bearings on landmarks,
seamarks, or naval targets.

The Lionel Corporation, a US manufacturer of toy trains, was
pressed into service during the war to make war material.

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impressum:
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© C.HAMANN       http://public.BHT-Berlin.de/hamann        06/22/12