Help Translate - ww2 era compass
- Thread starter yeahright
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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.
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.
- 20 Aug 2003
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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".
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".
- 19 May 2007
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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.
昭和 年 日製 on it, it would seem the year it was made was 1944.
- 15 Mar 2002
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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.
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.
- 19 May 2007
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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.
It is the most logical conclusion for those numbers 19 * 31 especially with those pre war kanji being used.
- 22 Feb 2008
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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.
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.
- 15 Mar 2002
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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.
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.
- 20 Aug 2003
- 4,910
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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
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
- 19 May 2007
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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?
