Unidentified Leitz device

[Enotslliw]

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I have been using this device as a thread counter. It is similar to thread counters I use in the course of inspecting carpets, fabrics and other hand loomed cloth. The lens moves across the course of the rule by the knurled threaded rod in the carriage which has the printing "Earnst Leitz Weitzler" cut into the stainless carriage. Separate from the makers name in the center are other letters and figures...on the left an eagle followed by Wa A42 and on the right Heer above and 1939 below. The rule is in metric with the letters Sachs. with double dots above the "a" and Wein. On the reverse side of the rule franz. and on the opposite side mtr.

The tool comes in a nice little wooden box covered in familiar brown plastic pebbled covering and the interior is a purple velvet like material. The presentation is familiar to me as it resembles much of the older microscope boxes.

Am I on the right track here with the use?

I acquired it with a large random collection of Leica photographic miscellany.

I thought I could manage to upload a photo to this post but apparently the pictures are to large...I have placed three pictures of the device in a folder called "Leitz non camera devices using my forum name Enotslliw. I hope this is enough to interest some knowledgable person to navigate to the photos. If not I could send them be email.

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The pictures of the scale are not very clear, I'm afraid; also, I rather think that one of the words reads "Wien." and not "Wein". The other side of the scale is not shown.

 

For those who are interested, the pictures are at http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/members/46879-albums5719-picture11299.html

 

They are not too large to post here; I suspect that your difficulty uploading pictures have other causes.

 

Given that they are marked as army property, I'd guess that the the device might have been used to measure distances on maps or aerial photographs, which is not very different from counting threads in cloth.

[jaapv]

Here is the image referred to in the OP

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[jaapv]

My guess is, in fact I am nearly sure, that it is a (military) device for reading out aerial photographs. Distances were measured and calculated optically.

[Pecole]

I have been using this device as a thread counter. It is similar to thread counters I use in the course of inspecting carpets, fabrics and other hand loomed cloth. The lens moves across the course of the rule by the knurled threaded rod in the carriage which has the printing "Earnst Leitz Weitzler" cut into the stainless carriage. Separate from the makers name in the center are other letters and figures...on the left an eagle followed by Wa A42 and on the right Heer above and 1939 below. The rule is in metric with the letters Sachs. with double dots above the "a" and Wein. On the reverse side of the rule franz. and on the opposite side mtr.

The tool comes in a nice little wooden box covered in familiar brown plastic pebbled covering and the interior is a purple velvet like material. The presentation is familiar to me as it resembles much of the older microscope boxes.

Am I on the right track here with the use?

I acquired it with a large random collection of Leica photographic miscellany.

I thought I could manage to upload a photo to this post but apparently the pictures are to large...I have placed three pictures of the device in a folder called "Leitz non camera devices using my forum name Enotslliw. I hope this is enough to interest some knowledgable person to navigate to the photos. If not I could send them be email.

 

It is definitely a system to "read" aerial photos : when in the Belgian Air Force, I remember having used a very similar system of American made. To fix the ratios, we had to know either the altitude the photo was taken, or the exact length of a reference object/distance between two reference points on same. Today, these systems are seen as museum pieces : electronics took over !

[jaapv]

Wa was the Army weapons office in the late 30-ies.

[jc_braconi]

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Wa was the Army weapons office in the late 30-ies.

and the first half 40's

Wa for Waffen Ampt, A42 for the name and place of the Inspector

WaA42 Gebr. Klinge Dresden 1936

WaA42 C. Heinichen Dresden 1937

[luigi bertolotti]

Really an interesting item... probably Leitz did provide many of them to the Army, but is also probable that no many have survived, expecially in such beautiful shape.

Italian Army, in the same times, used similar devices made by Florence's Galileo Co., which do appear time to time in flea markets (with less fine cases, usually... )

[Enotslliw]

fast and accurate...thank you for the responces. It could well be used for arial photography but it resembles so closely the design of the thread counters that I suspect the design was usurped by photo guys. Also it has four small sharp pins on the bottom to secure the tool to whatever is being inspected...small damage to a photo.

[jc_braconi]

. Also it has four small sharp pins on the bottom to secure the tool to whatever is being inspected...small damage to a photo.

Usual on this kind measuring tool