Moving my mother in law and she has 2 antique sextants. Googling show both worth well into 4 figures.

Not going to sell, but want them cleaned up and calibrated. Anyone know a place in Central Scotland? Presume there will be something in Leith or Aberdeen harbours ?

Soapy water for the groundsheet and reproof?

Soapy water for the groundsheet and reproof?

Wire brush and Dettol.

Edit : Serious answer – B.Cooke and Sons in Hull seem to specialise in this sort of thing according to Google.

Lilly and Gillie in Newcastle might be able to help.

https://www.jlgmarine.com/

However, I would guess that they don’t do it in house anymore and send it out to a specialist.

It may make a lot more sense to send it an independent that clean binoculars and telescopes. After all, it’s a bundle of lenses and mirrors that need cleaning.

+1 @gobuchul

If you cant find any sextant specialists.  I’d look for camera lens or telescope specialist.  Try contacting an independent store and see who services their stuff form them.

Have you tried on Sextantheads?

Don’t you just clean round the flange ad re-use assuming you have been inserting it in the right place?  If you have used it in an alternative way, it may need more specialist cleaning.  IMHO it’s better to clean where you are putting it before insertion.

she has 2 antique sextants

So you could* say these sextants are extant?

*you might not want to, admittedly

Have they still got the remnants of seamen on them?

Have we hit the zenith of sextant word play yet?

Zenith? Surely the Nadir?

Maybe better things are just over the horizon?

Or we could be just be going round in great circles?

you could see if there is someone at the Glasgow Nautical College who might be able to help – depending on what is needing done they may not require anything other than someone who knows how to use it.

You see, as a dentist this means something quite different to me. What’s her BPE?

You’re an MTBing dentist? Quick get over to Pinkbike. They’ll love you there…

Don’t you just clean round the flange ad re-use assuming you have been inserting it in the right place?  If you have used it in an alternative way, it may need more specialist cleaning.  IMHO it’s better to clean where you are putting it before insertion.

👏

What make are they?

One is a david stalker. One is a husun. Both 1800s.

David Stalker is listed as clock and sextant maker.

Husun listed as Henry Hughes & Son Ltd, London.

Dealers list polishing as extra cost and raising to ‘presentation level’

Personally as long as the scales are readable and there is no verdigris I would leave as is.

Unless you are thinking of using them?

Seriously, this has all gone to far.  I think you have all been given far too much latitude by the OP, but by now I’m sure he’s azimuth.  You should all spend a minute talking to yourselves.  Would anyone second this?

The pun game is strong here. Dropped a few emails off tonget quotes. One has a cracked mirror it seems so might need a bit of work.