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Thread: I know, I know. They are everywhere, but I bought one anyway.

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  1. #1
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    I know, I know. They are everywhere, but I bought one anyway.

    I've been watching these for years looking for a deal and I finally found one. We are talking about the Sperry Mk.1B artificial horizons removed from Britishicon military aircraft and made into book stands in 1986 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire.



    These were the top-central instrument in the standard blind-flying instrument cluster on every military plane from the period. Here's one in a Spitfire.



    Someone somewhere must have bought every Mk.1B removed from every British military plane before 1960 as a lot, and they've marketed them as "Supermarine Spitfire Gyro Horizon" ever since they attached the slabs of wood. At this point I think I've seen enough examples to have populated the control panel of every Hurricane and Spitfire made by Britain, Germanyicon, Japanicon, Italyicon, and Yugoslaviaicon. (joke)

    Anyway, I came across one of these for pocket change and snapped it up. Total cost $15. Why? To remember my uncle. When he saw WWII brewing up in Europe, my uncle Harry, a boy from Johnson City, Tennessee, USAicon, ran across the border to Canadaicon, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, and trained to become a pilot. After primary, advanced, and fighter tactics training in Canada he was posted to RAF Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales, and transitioned into the Spitfire. As he neared completion of his training we applied to the RAF Eagle squadrons. Before he could be posted, he and a trainee were involved in an accident and were killed. I've always felt an affinity for him and wanted something around the house to remind me of him. Now I've got it. A 1943-dated artificial horizon from some British military plane. I'd love to have some piece of a Spitfire but this is pretty okay. Yes, it dates from two years after he died. No, it probably didn't see the inside of a Spit. But it is a wartime instrument nevertheless. The sort that was on the Spit blind-flying clusters he stared into.

    Bob
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member 22SqnRAE's Avatar
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    Bob,

    Excellent story. It means a lot to you and that makes it all worthwhile with your uncle's connection. That'll do me.
    Trying to save Service history, one rifle at a time...

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    Legacy Member beachdog77's Avatar
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    I got one too! Mine is marked at maintained in 1950 but im not sure of its manufacture date. It does hold books well that much i know

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