Sextant

One U.S. Maritime Commission sextant with carrying case. The sextant is made of gray plastic with metal fittings, plastic eyepiece, glass mirrors, and has a foldout handle. The graduated arc on the bottom of the sextant is marked from -5 degrees to 140 degrees and includes a sliding vernier scale which allows the angle to be read to the nearest minute. The sextant includes two plastic index filters (one green and one red) at the top of the plastic body and two plastic horizon filters (one green and two red) at the outer end of the arc. All of the filters can be rotated in or out of the line of sight depending upon the sunlight intensity when sights were being taken. The top of the plastic body is stamped: "U. S. Maritime Comm." The back side of the body has raised text that reads: "Cruver" and Part No. 1940."

The sextant is held in a fitted, brown felt-lined rectangular case that is made of dark brown plastic. It has a hinged top, latch closure, reinforced corners, and a leather carrying handle. The outside lid has gold-colored painted text that reads "U.S. Maritime Commission" and "Culver Mfg. Co." The sextant was intended for emergency use (possibly in a lifeboat).