The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-07-11

r.
man Such guys are breed apart
in this world: they are rare com.
bination Of uechsnicisn and magi-
clan and artisan.
II Is the nautical instrument man
who sells and repairs sextants.
chronometers. eompasses. binoou-
lars and all the numerous intricate
and delicate precision Instruments
peculiar 10 the sea. The work and
unique skill required for each is
fascinatingly complex, salty-and
cannot be transferred to the print
ed page. II is tAntamount to a
Sixth Sense.
BY the nature Of the profession,
despite the great volume OF ship
ping at this port. Tacoma doesn't
have nautical instrument man.
But most any skipper or mate in
the world knows for instance. Plath
of Hamburg, Max Kuner Of Seat
/ tie, Frank Parks Of Portland, etc
II is internationalism at its best.
But to return TO compass ad-
/ justing Nautical instrument men
we've.known have unanimously de-
clared the prime essential for sue
cessful-that is. accurate 49, COM
pass adjusting is to be able To
think like a compass The actual
mechanics are strictly secondary.
Briefly, the vessel IL headed
In turn upon the four cardinal
compass points, then the inter
cardinal and intermediate
points. Bearings are taken all
the while upon known land
marks for true directions. That
Is what Is taking place when
you see yon steamship making
couple of slow circles In the
harbor.
Meanwhile, the instrument man
never have We known one deserv-
ing of the name who had ever
actually been to sea, psrsdoxically
enough-is fiddling with little bar
magnets, screw drivers, scratch
pad and pencil. At their best, they
somehow seem vague and point
less creatures.
They make adjustments to the
flinders-bar on the big ships. and
perhaps to the soft-iron compen-
sating balls on either side of the
pinnacle. Little vessels rarely have
a flinders-bar on the pinnacle and
the balls are invariably left right
out to the end of their track. most
ly for decoration and from habit:
bar-magnets are left permanently
When the instrument man is
finished and satisfied he makes a
neat little table of compass correc-
tons for all headings.
Purpose of the entire pro-
ceeding Is to determine-and
compensate as much Ne pos
sible-the compass deviation.
variation is the difference be-
tween the true north pole and the
magnetic north pole; deviation is
an additional error due to metal
or other factors of the vessel itself.
incidentally
As in centuries past. the COM
pass is the EYE" Of the ship by
which it is guided. Absolute knowl-
edge OF its abilities and behavior
Is essential to the safety and sue
cess of the voyage.
And we wish to shout from the
housetops that legitimate nautical
instrument men realize that ire
mendous responsibility of life and
property. They are. to man, faith
full craftsmen. They awe me.
Lubbers every one, they
nevertheless command the ut
most respect from every mar
liner.
When the ship is loaded and her
gear secured for sea, magnetic in
nuences are entirely different than
they were when she arrived in port.
So compass adjusting is the very
last task to be done before she
departs on voyage.
Not all ships get compass ad-
justment every voyage. Most fire.
quent clients are the offshore YES
sells. particularly il they have met
ais in their cargo. Coasting YES
sells are more likely to have the
job done annually or at other regu-
lar intervals.