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What is this


egbert

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I have a lot of aerials with a strange etching at the side of the photos. What is it: barometric post, film transportation mark .....?

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post-80-1162741412.jpg

post-80-1162741445.jpg

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Hi Egbert, lucky you having so many aerials, is the pointer in the same position on other photos, could it relate to an altometer reading? Someone, somewhere knows :rolleyes: , cheers, Jon :D

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I have a lot of aerials with a strange etching at the side of the photos. What is it: barometric post, film transportation mark .....?

....

Not seen this before. I've got quite a few aerial photos as well; British, German, French and US and there is nothing like it on any of mine. It looks like it is something that is exposed onto the film when the shutter is released, so I would guess camera or film related. Is there a similar think in the top left corner as well? If so, does it show the same figures? Are they numbers or letters?

Steve

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No way an expert on matters aeronautical but a bit of an expert on film having been a radiographer for unpty years. I agree with Malcolm its an image of a compass bearing, probably the heading of the aircraft at the moment the plate, and I would imagine the original negative was a glass plate, was exposed. SG

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I've not seen this before but it certainly looks like an aircraft compass. I could only guess that this was a camera fixed to the side of the aircraft with some form of prismatic window that captured a reflected image of the aircraft's compass. It's certainly a clever idea. I doubt if it would work with a hand held camera.

As always Egbert ,you deliver the goods!

Gunner Bailey

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I agree: must be a compass bearing. 1st pic shows an "O" for Osten=East and 2nd "N" for Nord=north.

But what are the (degree?-) no.s in between? What technique did they use to mirror the compass bearing on to the film negative. Probably no more answers possible.....

P.S. the last example shown shall read North 45 something then, right?

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I agree: must be a compass bearing. 1st pic shows an "O" for Osten=East and 2nd "N" for Nord=north.

But what are the (degree?-) no.s in between? What technique did they use to mirror the compass bearing on to the film negative. Probably no more answers possible.....

P.S. the last example shown shall read North 45 something then, right?

Egbert

I think you are right, but really for a compass the N and O are not really needed at all. You just need the bearing. It would be useful to see a photo of a German WW1 period aircraft compass and compare it. Another possibility is that the camera has a small compass in it, giving a rough comparison to the aircraft compass. This would allow the camera to be hand held.

Gunner Bailey

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Fair point Gunner: I intend to "borrow" and scan the second album of K.Doelle in December or so. It deals with the photographic hardware (a/c, camera etc) and other tons of aviation photos. Maybe there is a hint....

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Oh no! Now I am back at square one; and I thought I understood so far;

note the north arrow and the "r" !!!! r=probably for Rechts=right??????

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Oh no! Now I am back at square one; and I thought I understood so far;

note the north arrow and the "r" !!!! r=probably for Rechts=right??????

Egbert

The arrows would have been drawn on the clear areas of the negative in black ink. I would say they were judgemental, and maybe a quick guide mark, or perceived correction.

Didn't the Germans use Port and Starboard like the rest of the aviation world?

Gunner Bailey

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