Original Items: Only One Available. This is an actual Grobhöhenmesser (Coarse altimeter) 17b, as used in the German WWII Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 52 Transport Aircraft! It was also used on the Ar79, Bu131, and Bu133 Training Aircraft, Si202 Sports Plane, and DFS230 Transport Glider. The unit is made of black bakelite, and the face registers coarse altitude in kilometers from 0 to 6km. The reverse still has the hose plug present, which is marked Statischer – Druckausgleich (Static pressure equalization). This connected to a pressure tube conveying air from outside the plane.
The face is also marked with the JCE logo of maker J.C. Eckardt A.G. as well as Work Number W125955 and Luftwaffe number Fl 22316-6. Under the indicator needle, the face is also marked Höhe / km, for Height in Kilometers. There is a calibration knob on the bottom side, which moves the Millibar pressure indicator in the small window above the main needle, which we assume calibrates the unit.
Condition is very good, and it is well-marked on the back with all of the manufacturer information. The crystal is in great shape, and there is no damage of any type that we can see, just some dirt from long storage.
A great piece of German Luftwaffe material, ready to add to your collection!
More on the Junkers Ju 25:
The Junkers Ju 52/3m (nicknamed Tante Ju (“Aunt Ju”) and Iron Annie) is a transport aircraft that was designed and manufactured by German aviation company Junkers.
Development of the Ju 52 commenced during 1930, headed by German aeronautical engineer Ernst Zindel. The aircraft’s design incorporated a corrugated duralumin metal skin as a strengthening measure, which was very unusual at the time. The Ju 52’s maiden flight was performed on 13 October 1930. It was initially designed with a single engine, however, it was produced in quantity as a trimotor. The primary early production model, the Ju 52/3m, was principally operated as a 17-seat airliner or utility transport aircraft by various civil operators during the 1930s. Following the rise of NSDAP Germany, thousands of Ju 52s were procured as a staple military transport of the nation. The Ju 52/3mg7e was the principal production model.
The Ju 52 was in production between 1931 and 1952. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 airlines, including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa, as both a passenger carrier and a freight hauler. In a military role, large numbers flew with the Luftwaffe, being deployed on virtually all fronts of the Second World War as a troop and cargo transport; it was also briefly used as a medium bomber. Additionally, the type was deployed by other nation’s militaries in conflicts such as the Spanish Civil War, the Chaco War, and the Portuguese Colonial War. During the postwar era, the Ju 52 had a lengthy service life with numerous military and civilian operators; large numbers were still in use by the 1980s. Even in the 21st century, several aircraft have remained operational, typically used for purposes such heritage aviation displays and aerial sightseeing.