02-25-2018, 07:04 PM
Tom, that's interesting, the Brunton was probably near-perfect for aligning electronic gear. I seem to recall reading somewhere that they are also used to align satellite receiver antennae ... Sounds reasonable because, not only is it a very precise compass, but also a very precise clinometer for measuring elevation angles. Did you also use the clinometer function ?
I had a Brunton "aiming circle", which is much like a transit, in the Army many decades ago. It was employed for laying and directing a 4.2 inch mortar and was awesomely effective at it's purpose.
BTW, I hope that I haven't gone too far afield with this post but these are measuring tools, LOL.
Back in the day, I enjoyed backpacking in the mountains here. I used my old Army lensatic compass which worked fine although considerably heavier than it needed to be for backpacking. But as I approached and passed age forty, I found the lensatic too hard to read and obtained a very light Suunto M2C compass which I still own and keep in my earthquake-preparedness gear in the trunk of my car.
The Brunton "Pocket Transit" (and the Asian knockoffs below) probably to no one's surprise have never been outside of my home, ha-ha-ha, they are all manifestations of gadgetmania. I especially like the prismatic compasses, I'd never used one before buying a pair of them about ten years ago. They are perfect for those with imperfect vision !
If I rewound enough years so that I was fit enough to resume strenuous outdoor activity, and if it was available, I'd carry this inexpensive little Chinese compass made by a company named (oddly) "Coughlan".
I've seen these online for just a couple of dollars U.S. and they are a lot of value. They combine the features of map compass and lensatic compass. I weighed this one and the Suunto and the weight difference is tenths of an ounce, the Suunto being lightest.
And speaking of gadgets, this is part of my electronics lab:
The photo is about five years old - there have been more additions since then ... If there were a "Gadgets Anonymous" I might be one of the senior members !!
I had a Brunton "aiming circle", which is much like a transit, in the Army many decades ago. It was employed for laying and directing a 4.2 inch mortar and was awesomely effective at it's purpose.
BTW, I hope that I haven't gone too far afield with this post but these are measuring tools, LOL.
Back in the day, I enjoyed backpacking in the mountains here. I used my old Army lensatic compass which worked fine although considerably heavier than it needed to be for backpacking. But as I approached and passed age forty, I found the lensatic too hard to read and obtained a very light Suunto M2C compass which I still own and keep in my earthquake-preparedness gear in the trunk of my car.
The Brunton "Pocket Transit" (and the Asian knockoffs below) probably to no one's surprise have never been outside of my home, ha-ha-ha, they are all manifestations of gadgetmania. I especially like the prismatic compasses, I'd never used one before buying a pair of them about ten years ago. They are perfect for those with imperfect vision !
If I rewound enough years so that I was fit enough to resume strenuous outdoor activity, and if it was available, I'd carry this inexpensive little Chinese compass made by a company named (oddly) "Coughlan".
I've seen these online for just a couple of dollars U.S. and they are a lot of value. They combine the features of map compass and lensatic compass. I weighed this one and the Suunto and the weight difference is tenths of an ounce, the Suunto being lightest.
And speaking of gadgets, this is part of my electronics lab:
The photo is about five years old - there have been more additions since then ... If there were a "Gadgets Anonymous" I might be one of the senior members !!