A Three-Dimensional Find

     This week’s find is our first that did not come directly from inside the pages of a book, but rather, it came from the box that the books were donated in. This means that our find is three-dimensional – how exciting!


     Sometime last week, a box of used books was donated and left near our front door while we were closed. The box held an entire set – 21 books - of famed author Patrick O’Brian’s bestselling historical novels set in the early 1800s on the sea in the Royal Navy. These nautical books center around the adventures of the same central cast of characters, most notably the Royal Navy’s British captain Jack Aubrey and his Irish friend, physician and intelligence agent, Stephen Maturin. Ever heard of the 2003 movie titled “Master and Commander” starring actor, Russell Crowe? It was based on O’Brian’s first book in his series with the same title and characters.



     As we sorted through the books, we came upon a small green plastic box. Inside the box we found, at first glance, what looked to be a pocket watch of some sort. Could this be related to the historical books, we wondered? Maybe it was used as a tool on the sea to help tell time, or perhaps it was a nautical heirloom! We might have gotten a little carried away, as a closer look at the pocket-sized find quickly dashed those thoughts/dreams when we noticed that it wasn’t actually a clock face, at all. After a little research, we discovered that the find was a measurement tool that looks like a pocket watch, but is actually a vintage drafting scale measuring wheel. What is that, you may ask? We were wondering, too.


     Used for drafting, map reading and blueprint reading/development, the Alvin 1114 (model name and number) consists of three dials: one that measures 1 inch increments up to foot, the second that counts the number of revolutions of the first dial from 0-10 feet, and the third that counts the revolutions of the second dial from 0 to 100 ft. Such an instrument could have been used by an engineer, land surveyor or architect (before the introduction, perhaps, of software programs that now complete the same tasks). We have no idea how old the measurement tool is or where it came from, but we have one clue that we are hoping you can help with.


     On the back of the Alvin 1114, we discovered three initials engraved into the metal: DWJ. Who is DWJ and how did their vintage measurement tool end up in our box of donated bestselling nautical novels? Do you have any ideas? We would love to return it to its owner, so if you are DWJ and you know what the heck we are talking about, give us a call or stop by to retrieve your tool. We feel the need to admit that, just to try it out, we may have measured a few things with it around the store (true confessions, here). You know, a Lake Winnipesaukee map, a book or two, the length of a salt and vinegar potato chip that we were snacking on…you get the picture.


     The set of Patrick O’Brian historical Royal Navy novels are yours for 2.99 each and if you are DWJ, we have a nifty vintage measurement tool (that looks like a pocket watch) for you, as well. You can catch up with our previous finds of the week from the used book floor at bayswaterbooks.com and on facebook. Better yet, stop by our store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!