Whats This?

c3006 · 09-25-2005, 09:33 AM

I have had this thing for a while it was in a old WW2 vets stuff I came upon. The little wheel turns the dial on one side that has measuments in metric. It says SELSI GERMANY on it . The other side is a compass. Any Ideas?

Don M · 09-25-2005, 10:02 AM

Here's a guess. The dial is graduated in miles and kilometers, so it may be designed for use with maps of a particular scale to measure distances. The device would be useful for navigating using a map.

Edward Tinker · 09-25-2005, 10:40 AM

and it says inches to.... maybe to take British maps and translate them to European maps?

Ron Smith · 09-25-2005, 10:43 AM

Don,

Your guess is correct. I don't remember the exact term for them. Kind of a map odometer. Neat find!

Ron

tudorbug · 09-25-2005, 11:28 AM

Hold the device upright and roll the little wheel along a road or distance on a map. It reads back the distance in miles or kilometers depending on which of the two scales you look at.

Handy device even today even with mapping software like Deloreme or EarthGoogle.

David

Doug G. · 09-25-2005, 11:30 AM

If you look closely it has centimeters to kilometers as well as the inches to miles. Also I suspect that the wheel on the bottom is for use on a map surface. Would be very handy for a field commander.

George Anderson · 09-25-2005, 01:10 PM

Before I received my invitation to join the US Army in 1969, I worked part-time for a civil engineer, all of us were familiar with these gadgets used to determine actual linear distance (mileage) from a map. Great little device, if computers crash now, the current tribe would be at a total loss.

trigger643 · 09-25-2005, 01:23 PM

I've seen several of these over the years, called "map mileage calculator" or "analog map distance reader" or various combinations of words meaning all the same thing. Doing a google search, I noted one here:

http://www.kitefarm.com/compass_museum/unclassd.htm

c3006 · 09-25-2005, 02:23 PM

Thanks for the info I cant help but wonder where stuff like this has been and what its done. clint

awesome · 01-08-2011, 11:57 AM

CURVIMETER is a most common name. When I was in army in former Jugoslavija, work with maps, and with curvimeter was part of standard training.

"The curvimeter is an instrument designed for measuring the length of curved and crooked lines plotted on topographic plans, maps and graphical documents. ..."

09-25-2005, 09:33 AM	#1
c3006 User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: east tn Posts: 526 Thanks: 5 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	Whats This? I have had this thing for a while it was in a old WW2 vets stuff I came upon. The little wheel turns the dial on one side that has measuments in metric. It says SELSI GERMANY on it . The other side is a compass. Any Ideas? __________________ Men Accustomed unto thier arms and their liberties will never endure the yoke. James Harrington 1776

09-25-2005, 10:02 AM	#2
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	Here's a guess. The dial is graduated in miles and kilometers, so it may be designed for use with maps of a particular scale to measure distances. The device would be useful for navigating using a map. __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

09-25-2005, 10:40 AM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	and it says inches to.... maybe to take British maps and translate them to European maps? __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-25-2005, 10:43 AM	#4
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Don, Your guess is correct. I don't remember the exact term for them. Kind of a map odometer. Neat find! Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

09-25-2005, 01:23 PM	#8
trigger643 User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Murfreesboro Posts: 502 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I've seen several of these over the years, called "map mileage calculator" or "analog map distance reader" or various combinations of words meaning all the same thing. Doing a google search, I noted one here: http://www.kitefarm.com/compass_museum/unclassd.htm __________________ "There are three reasons to own a gun: To protect yourself and your family, to hunt dangerous and delicious animals, and to keep the King of England out of your face." Ã¢?? Krusty the Clown

09-25-2005, 11:28 AM	#5
tudorbug Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts	Hold the device upright and roll the little wheel along a road or distance on a map. It reads back the distance in miles or kilometers depending on which of the two scales you look at. Handy device even today even with mapping software like Deloreme or EarthGoogle. David

09-25-2005, 11:30 AM	#6
Doug G. User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 713 Thanks: 1 Thanked 53 Times in 17 Posts	If you look closely it has centimeters to kilometers as well as the inches to miles. Also I suspect that the wheel on the bottom is for use on a map surface. Would be very handy for a field commander.

09-25-2005, 01:10 PM	#7
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Before I received my invitation to join the US Army in 1969, I worked part-time for a civil engineer, all of us were familiar with these gadgets used to determine actual linear distance (mileage) from a map. Great little device, if computers crash now, the current tribe would be at a total loss.

09-25-2005, 02:23 PM	#9
c3006 User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: east tn Posts: 526 Thanks: 5 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	Thanks for the info I cant help but wonder where stuff like this has been and what its done. clint __________________ Men Accustomed unto thier arms and their liberties will never endure the yoke. James Harrington 1776

01-08-2011, 11:57 AM	#10
awesome User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pula, Croatia Posts: 10 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Better ever than never CURVIMETER is a most common name. When I was in army in former Jugoslavija, work with maps, and with curvimeter was part of standard training. "The curvimeter is an instrument designed for measuring the length of curved and crooked lines plotted on topographic plans, maps and graphical documents. ..."