Trench Periscope
date: label: date made
content: 1917
name: label: maker
content: Adams & Company
notes: label: Description
content: Periscope for use in trench warfare, World War I. Wood and metal perioscope painted olive drab on the exterior and black on interior. Wood and metal shutter at bottom front of periscope slides up to reveal viewfinder. Corresponding mirror at top back of periscope reflects the scene down to the viewfinder, enabling the user to see up and over the trench from within the cover of the trench. Two hinged wooden flaps open at the top front and bottom back of the periscope to expose the interior mirrors for cleaning and repair. The periscope folds in half for storage. Manufacturer's label on shutter reads, "PERISCOPE No. 9 Mark 11 / (22 1/2 inches between Mirrors) / Adams & Co. / 1917. / When observing with a Binocular, rest it on / the Glass Screen. When observing without / a Binocular, lower the shutter until the eyes / are protected by it and the Glass Screen." Used during WWI and convoyed from the Base Ordnance Depot #1 at St. Nazaire, France, by Sergeant George C. Van Etton, who was relieved of the responsibility at the Army Supply Base, Norfolk, VA. Shipping ticket number 1514. Transferred from the War Department.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: associated place
content: France: Pays de la Loire, Saint-Nazaire
topic: label: related event
content: World War I
setName: label: See more items in
content: Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
label: See more items in
content: Military
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.24063
label: catalog number
content: 24063
label: accession number
content: 64099
objectType: label: Object Name
content: periscope
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall; support material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall:; inside material)
label: Measurements
content: overall, maximum (exhibit or expanded): 26 in x 4 1/2 in x 3 in; 66.04 cm x 11.43 cm x 7.62 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall, minimum (shipping, storage, or collapsed): 13 in x 4 1/2 in x 6 in; 33.02 cm x 11.43 cm x 15.24 cm
label: Measurements
content: part: between interior mirrors: 22 1/2 in; 57.15 cm