Attitude Indicator [Gyro Horizon]
Maker and role
Sperry Gyroscope Company, Manufacturer
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2006.411
Maker
Description
Gyro Horizon Altitude indicator. Small metal oblong shaped box with black paint finish and glass plate, single free floating dial and gauges at front. Two adjusting knobs at the front - knob at left has 'SPERRY' logo on it and right states 'PULL TO CAGE'. Paper label on reverse of box stating 'INDICATOR GYRO HORIZON, MANUALLY CAGED ELECTRIC, TYPE H-6A'. Also patent no.s listed as '2,409,659, 2,452,473, 2,485,552'. Another small paper label on reverse stating 'PHASE ROTATION 115 VOLTS - 400 CYCLES'. There is a number on side of box: '604508 ASS'Y'.
Brief History
The company was founded in 1910 as the Sperry Gyroscope Company by Elmer Ambrose Sperry to manufacture navigation equipment, chiefly his own inventions – the marine gyrostabilizer and the gyrocompass. During World War I the company diversified into aircraft components including bomb sights and fire control systems. In their early decades, Sperry Gyroscope and related companies were concentrated on Long Island, New York, especially in Nassau County. Over the years, it diversified to other locations. During the 1950s, a large part of Sperry Gyroscope was moved to Phoenix, Arizona and soon thereafter became the Sperry Flight Systems Company. This was to try to preserve parts of this vital defence company in the event of a thermonuclear conflagration. Sperry Flight Systems continued to excel at aviation electronics - avionics - and it also provided avionics systems for such NASA programs as the Space Shuttle.
In 1918 Lawrence Sperry split from his father to compete over aero-instruments with the Lawrence Sperry Aircraft Company, including the new automatic pilot. In 1924 following the death of Lawrence on December 13, 1923, the two firms were brought together. The company became Sperry Corporation in 1933. The new corporation was a holding company for a number of smaller entities such as the original Sperry Gyroscope, Ford Instrument Company, Intercontinental Aviation, Inc., and others.
The company did very well during World War II as military demand skyrocketed; it specialized in high technology devices such as analog computer-controlled bomb sights, airborne radar systems, and automated take off and landing systems. Sperry also was the creator of the Ball Turret Gun that was mounted under the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, made famous by the Memphis Belle. Postwar, the company expanded its interests in electronics and computing, producing the company's first digital computer, SPEEDAC, in 1953.
In 1918 Lawrence Sperry split from his father to compete over aero-instruments with the Lawrence Sperry Aircraft Company, including the new automatic pilot. In 1924 following the death of Lawrence on December 13, 1923, the two firms were brought together. The company became Sperry Corporation in 1933. The new corporation was a holding company for a number of smaller entities such as the original Sperry Gyroscope, Ford Instrument Company, Intercontinental Aviation, Inc., and others.
The company did very well during World War II as military demand skyrocketed; it specialized in high technology devices such as analog computer-controlled bomb sights, airborne radar systems, and automated take off and landing systems. Sperry also was the creator of the Ball Turret Gun that was mounted under the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, made famous by the Memphis Belle. Postwar, the company expanded its interests in electronics and computing, producing the company's first digital computer, SPEEDAC, in 1953.
Marks
BUAER, U.S. NAVY , NAF PART NO. 1308.1 , STOCK NO. R8811332 025 - 000 Maker's Plate
'INDICATOR GYRO HORIZON, MANUALLY CAGED ELECTRIC, TYPE H-6A Label
604508 ASS'Y Printed
'INDICATOR GYRO HORIZON, MANUALLY CAGED ELECTRIC, TYPE H-6A Label
604508 ASS'Y Printed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Sperry Gyroscope Company. Attitude Indicator [Gyro Horizon], 2006.411. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Public comments
Be the first to comment on this object record.