C.G. Conn "Observer's Compass"

[@StohrerMusic]

I got ahold of that master's thesis I wanted to check out, thanks to @jk1984 for the idea. So during WW2, Conn made: - airplane signal lamps (1.8 million of these) - altimeters for use on Flying Fortress, Liberator, Mustang, Lightning, and Thunderbolt airplanes. the gears were sub-contracted to Elgin Watch Co. - gyro-horizon indicators for airplanes (55k of these) - compasses of several types for ships ( 70k of these) - binnacles (compass housings), compass parts, interval and dwell testers, the "Naviscope" (enabled ships to keep formation during nighttime evasion maneuvers), the "Magnavox" bomb director, tiny hexagonal nuts, large bells for ship dorade boxes, wooden trunks to transport equipment, bearings, engine parts, did some plating work as a subcontractor, and made vibrometers inspired by the Stroboconn tuner. If you want to read the thesis yourself it is titled INSTRUMENTS OF WAR: THE IMPACT OF WORLD WAR II ON THE AMERICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT INDUSTRY By Sarah Deters Richardson

[@StohrerMusic]

To give some context as to how desirable and rare copper (the main component of brass) was during WW2 and why instrument manufacture stopped, it is worth noting that the Manhattan Project (to build the first nuclear bomb) borrowed 14,700 tons of SILVER to be used as conductive wiring when that much copper was impossible to acquire: www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Places/OakRidge/oak-ridge-y12-silver.html

[@SkylersRants]

Wow, that was something new. I’d never even heard of that type of compass before. Thanks for sharing.

[@apistosig4173]

remarkable such instruments still survive - wow.

[@JacksonParodi]

That's a pretty cool find

[@savage22bolt32]

Very interesting vid. Thanks for posting.

[@mattlevault5140]

Pretty cool! Never seen one of those before!

[@phooesnax]

Great stuff! Thank You

[@ChrisDragotta]

Hi Matt big fan here. I finish blanks for Ted Klum. I have a beautiful Elkhart straight soprano, which is really a martin. I love it now that I have all the kinks worked out. Do you think it is possible to put a front F key on it? I'm leaving this message here because this is your most recent vid.

[@StohrerMusic]

Send me an email with photos, please. Thanks!

[@jk1984]

You live near UNC and NC State. If you want to read the thesis you mentioned, have you tried seeing if the university libraries will let guest researchers use their facilities for a day?

[@StohrerMusic]

Guest researcher! I'd have to change out of my overalls and put on shoes for sure! Haha. That is a great idea though, and I had not considered it. I do know a professor or two, perhaps they could take a look for me? Thanks for the tip!

[@chuckb9867]

I wonder what the Current value Of a compass like this is

[@StohrerMusic]

They pop up on eBay for a hundred bucks or so, seems like. There are also larger ship's compasses made by Conn that cost considerably more.

[@chuckb9867]

@@StohrerMusic Thank you for the reply