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Aeronautical instruments

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Scope Note: Accelerometers; Air-speed indicators; Altimeter; Artificial horizons; Automatic pilot; Course-line computers; Density altitude computers; Distance measuring equipment; Drift indicator; Flight engineering; Flight recorders; Ground-speed indicator; Guidance systems; Inclinometer; Inertial navigation; Instrument flying; Kymograph; Navigation computer; Omnirange system; Radio beacons; Radioisotopes; Rate gyroscopes; Stall warning indicators.

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Edward J. Nossen collection of RCA contract proposals

 Collection
Accession: 2761
Abstract:

Edward J. Nossen (1930-2016) was an engineer in the Radio Corporation of America's Government Systems Division at Camden, New Jersey. He invented a range-determining system that can rescue air craft. The Radio Corporation of America (renamed RCA Corporation in 1969) was best known for its pioneering radio and television development and manufacturing. In addition to consumer electronics, RCA was a major player in the development of electronics for industrial and military applications. This small collection consists of contract proposals and technical reports that were mostly submitted by RCA Government Systems Division, Camden. The proposals have Nossen's name written on the cover. The proposals and reports relate to communication systems being developed between 1964 and 1990.

Dates: 1964-1990

Elmer Sperry photographs

 Collection
Accession: 1985-257
Abstract:

Elmer A. Sperry (1860-1930) was an electrical engineer who established the Electric Light, Motor, and Car Brake Company in 1883 and then founded the Sperry Electric Mining Machine Company in 1886. After selling his patents to General Electric, he went to work for the company as a consultant. This collection includes original materials, as well as copy work from other sources and images which show Sperry's inventions; there is some ephemera, family photos, employees, and views of the Sperry Company's Brooklyn drafting rooms.

Dates: 1847-1945

Sperry Gyroscope Company anti-aircraft fire director schematic diagram and graduation certificate

 Collection
Accession: 2505
Abstract:

The Sperry Gyroscope Company researched, developed, and manufactured navigation equipment; three of the premiere products were the marine gyrostabilizer, the gyrocompass, and the high-intensity searchlight. The company was founded by Elmer A. Sperry (1860-1930) in 1910. After Elmer Sperry's death in 1930, the engineers at Sperry Gyroscope continued to develop increasingly sophisticated anti-aircraft devices, fire control, and automatic pilot systems. Directors were developed to operate anti-aircraft weapons systems and utilized observational data to calculate firing solutions. The collection comprises a drawing for an anti-aircraft fire director and a graduation certificate issued to James A. Wittie (1918-2010) for completing a four-week training course in the principles and use of the M-4 and M-7 directors.

Dates: 1942

Sperry Gyroscope Company Division photographs and films

 Collection
Accession: 1986-273
Abstract:

The Sperry Gyroscope Company researched, developed, and manufactured navigation equipment; three of the premiere products were the marine gyrostabilizer, the gyrocompass, and the high-intensity searchlight. The company was founded by Elmer A. Sperry (1860-1930) in 1910. Sperry Gyroscope Company photographs and films consists primarily of images of products and inventions developed between 1912 and 1965, a bulk of materials date from 1940 through 1960. The collection has been organized into five series: Personnel; Plants, Sperry School, and Museum; Products; Public Information Department; and Visitors, exhibits, models, and patents.

Dates: 1915-1962; Majority of material found within 1940-1960

Sperry Gyroscope Company Division records

 Collection
Accession: 1915
Abstract:

The Sperry Gyroscope Company was originally organized by electrical inventor Elmer Ambrose Sperry for the purpose of manufacturing and marketing his ship gyrostabilizer, gyrocompass, and high-intensity searchlight. The records describe the development and marketing of the marine and airplane stabilizer, the high-intensity searchlight, fire control systems, the gyrocompass, airplane automatic pilot, bombsights, and the aerial torpedo. They trace the evolving relationship between Sperry and the military and the impact of World Wars I and II.

Dates: 1910-1970