Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Genuine WWII Imperial Japanese Navy Type 90 Magnetic Ship's Compass. This large compass is approximately 10 inches wide and 6 inches tall. It has two brass mounting lugs on the side, which would be used to fit the compass into a gimbal mount in the ship. As far as we can tell, the compass still functions correctly. Unfortunately the bottom of the compass was damaged at some point, and repaired with what looks to be bondo. The data plate on the compass was unfortunately damaged and is now illegible due to corrosion.
It comes contained in it's original wooden heavy duty transit chest, which measures 11 3/4 inch square with a height of 9 inches. The chest fortunately still has a fully legible data plate, giving information regarding the compass. The top reads 九 0 式, which is a combination of Japanese and western numbers. Kyuu (九) is Japanese for number 9, and shiki (式) is the word for type, so it reads 90 Type. The next line is information regarding the specific version of the compass, and the third line reads 羅 盤, which translates to "Raban", the Japanese word for Luopan, a Chinese-style Magnetic Compass. We then have the serial number 24446 listed with other characters, and the last line reads 昭和 16 年 3 月製造, which is the date. This reads as "Showa 16 Nen 3 Gatsu Seizou", indicating production in the 3rd month of the 16th year of the Showa era, or March 1941.
The Type 90, which is actually correctly read as "Type Nine Zero", was used throughout the war on ships, and possibly also bombers and flying boats. This is a great display piece, and is sure to make a great addition to any collection. Ready to display!
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