*British, WW1, Vickers Rangefinder with Tripod. Coincidence Rangefinder by Barr & Stroud Ltd, Type F.T27. American tripod ‘Stand Instrument No 14, Mark 11, Houghton Butcher MFG’, dated 1916.*
Working alongside the Vickers Machine Gun from its introduction into service until the time it was withdrawn was the Rangefinder.
Rangefinder bears a metal plate marked with “Barr & Stroud Ltd, Rangefinder, Type F.T.27, Base 80.0 c/m, war arrow, no 16251, Patent nos 1462 of 1903, 13818 of 1909 and 7786 of 1909”.
Barr and Stroud initially developed their instruments in the 1890s, and their partnership with the Royal Navy led to the widespread acceptance of their instruments, nearly excluding all others. It was an improvement over the FA & FQ models, being more accurate and user-friendly. The F.T.27, with a compact design and either a 1m or 80cm base length, was widely produced, often for land use. It could be handheld or mounted on a tripod. Although initially used during WW1 and still in service afloat in 1921, many of these rangefinders were repurposed during WW2 and remained in production until the late 1960s. Measures approximately 93cm long.
A coincidence rangefinder, employing mechanical and optical principles to measure distance, played a crucial role in fire control systems for long-range naval guns and coastal artillery from around 1890 to 1960. These rangefinders were also employed in rangefinder cameras.
The Tripod is an American WWI military issue khaki painted aluminium folding field tripod with painted brass mount. This was introduced in 1914. Marked “Stand Instrument No 14, Mark 11, Houghton Butcher MFG, C2. Ltd, 1916, 9221, War Arrow”. Tripod stands, legs 24cm each, height when operational floor to rangefinder approx 26cm.
Original leather frogs, sling and rangefinder cover.
*Condition*
In good original unrestored condition with original strap. One of the frog buckles has been replaced. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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