What is this?

[cracktheskye]

A customer brought this in to my shop today, I did my best to ID it but to no avail. So what the heck is this thing?

There is a hand-operated "windshield wiper" on the front. It's hard to see in this pic but there are two lenses and a mirror behind the window. The lenses are (looking straight at the object) against the back and bottom, and the mirror is at the top. The mirror is clearly visible in this pic, and one lens is somewhat visible.



There are few markings on this thing, but two are visible in this pic-- 41, and KM5708 right below it.


Two optical lenses here, below the pad; one allows you to see what appears to be a 2x magnified picture of whatever is in front of you, the other likely needs power to use.

[cracktheskye]

More...



Here is one of the more curious aspects of this piece. This is one of two "windows" that cap a container that holds what looks to be small pieces of rose quartz.

[Dreaded Claymore]

It looks like a lighthouse beacon, or component thereof, to me.

[j0k3r11]

I think it's a nautical light taken off of a ship?

[SteveMartin]

Looks like a periscope of some kind. Maybe from a tank?

[fzylogic]

The "KM" in what might be the serial number might mean it was made by Krauss-Maffei. Maybe a periscope for one their tanks?

[cntrolsguy]

"holds what looks to be small pieces of rose quartz.


These are desiccant pellets.

[Mongoblack23]

like cntrolsgy said, the crystals are desiccant to keep the lenses from fogging up and keep moisture out of the internal electronics. we still use them on kc135s. its defenitely a periscope of some kind, im guessing fzylogic is closest to right. looking through the lenses, is there any cross hairs or range markings?

[sstephenson]

From Google Translate:

schein werfer = translucent headlamps

okular heizung = ocular heating

strichplatten einstellung = stressed slabs setting

blende = aperture

Just my thoughts, but the mirror appears to be only partially coated (since you seem to be able to see through it). I'm guessing that you could film or photograph at the same time that you were looking through the device, so that visual and photographic use was possible at the same time. That would make sense if it were a periscope. Blow 'em up and document it at the same time.

[Ordie1]

looks like surveyors instrument

[fzylogic]

From Google Translate:

schein werfer = translucent headlamps

okular heizung = ocular heating

strichplatten einstellung = stressed slabs setting

blende = aperture

Just my thoughts, but the mirror appears to be only partially coated (since you seem to be able to see through it). I'm guessing that you could film or photograph at the same time that you were looking through the device, so that visual and photographic use was possible at the same time. That would make sense if it were a periscope. Blow 'em up and document it at the same time.

"strichplatten einstellung" has a much more relevant translation that I found: "Reticle plates adjustment"

http://www.dictindustry.com/german/english.php