Help Translate - ww2 era compass

Y

yeahright

後輩

29 Dec 2011

2

0

• 29 Dec 2011

• #1

I found a compass of some sort, and cannot positively identify it. There are Japanese characters on it, and I know nothing of the Japanese language. Can someone translate the text in the two photos? Thank you!!!

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Twenty-year veteran

15 Mar 2002

16,758

2,298

• 29 Dec 2011

• #2

What are the digits in the silver areas on the second image? They give the year and month of manufacture. The war ended in 20/8 so anything after that would be postwar production.

 

Y

yeahright

後輩

29 Dec 2011

2

0

• 29 Dec 2011

• Thread starter
• #3

There are 3 silver areas. The widest one reads '2176', which is also stamped on the face of the compass device, next to the word 'Fuji'. On the bottom of the compass device, stamped into the metal, is '19 (star) 31'

The 2 smaller silver areas on the outside of the case are blank...either there was never any number stamped there, or it has worn away over time.

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Twenty-year veteran

15 Mar 2002

16,758

2,298

• 29 Dec 2011

• #4

The 2176 is likely a serial number. The 19*31 is probably not a year, as western calendar years weren't in common use.

 

Glenski

Just me

Twenty-year veteran

20 Aug 2003

4,910

416

• 29 Dec 2011

• #5

The 2176 is definitely a serial number. No clue what 19*31 means.

The company name is Fuji Surveying Company (Fuji Sokuryoki Kabushiki Gaisha). Kabushiki Gaisha is like writing Ltd or Inc.

The top picture 6 kanji translate as follows (each word below corresponds to 2 kanji):
standardization (Hyoutei)
compass (Rashin)
needle (Hontai)
Put together they might mean "The main body of standardization compass needle".

 

FrustratedDave

先輩

19 May 2007

1,716

113

• 29 Dec 2011

• #6

Come on guys, the 19 & 31 are most likely date numbers and since the plate has
昭和 年 日製 on it, it would seem the year it was made was 1944.

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Twenty-year veteran

15 Mar 2002

16,758

2,298

• 29 Dec 2011

• #7

Actually, the 本体 bit means it is the main part and implies that there are accessory components that go with it, some sort of stand, for example. Company name should be Fuji Surveying Instruments Company.

The Showa Era ran up until the late 80s, so unless the year number is stamped in there after the 昭和 I don't see how you can conclude it was made was 1944. The use of pre-reform kanji would seem to indicate pre-1945, though. Although it is at least possible they were running out old stock of blank date plates.

 

FrustratedDave

先輩

19 May 2007

1,716

113

• 29 Dec 2011

• #8

昭和19年31日製 = 1944

It is the most logical conclusion for those numbers 19 * 31 especially with those pre war kanji being used.

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 29 Dec 2011

• #9

The kanji printed on the label is 昭和 年 月製. I've never seen the way of the description of the manufacture date such like ○年○日製. First of all, the OP said '19 (star) 31' is stampted on the bottom of the compass and it's not 昭和19年31月製 nor 昭和19年31日製. We can see in the second picture that the year and month part is blank in the label.

富士測量機株式會社 seems like the present TI Asahi, a group company of Pentax. And I agree with Mike-san. "Hontai" shows this compass would be a part of components. If so, "hyoutei" might mean orientation in this case.

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Twenty-year veteran

15 Mar 2002

16,758

2,298

• 29 Dec 2011

• #10

Probably part of a transit for regular surveying work by army engineers. Either that or for laying (setting up) guns by artillery units.

Pentax still makes surveying equipment. It's a long shot, but an inquiry to Pentax Japan (with more and better photos of the unit itself) may yield some more information on it.

 

Glenski

Just me

Twenty-year veteran

20 Aug 2003

4,910

416

• 29 Dec 2011

• #11

Or how about showing us that 19 <star> 31.........? (I will assume the star is the same image as what is to the left of the serial number.)

We could guess until doomsday without seeing it to give us more info.

Yes, that should be Fuji Surveying Instruments Company, Ltd. It was bought out in 1966 by Asahi Optical.

A little more info in general antique surveying equipment is in this book.

http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=uH0IrK43UQwC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=Fuji+surveying+instruments+company&source=bl&ots=Sra_6JZ3-f&sig=VQXRx-DkR458E84YkzZ93fB3eqE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgT8TvXQFevRmAWz7L20Ag&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Fuji surveying instruments company&f=false

 

FrustratedDave

先輩

19 May 2007

1,716

113

• 29 Dec 2011

• #12

Well pointed out Tori. I did not really bother looking at the pic as the pic is too small and hurt my eyes. And I thought there were 31 months in a year?