Word: sextant
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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Perhaps the greatest invention to make for the safe navigation of ocean-going ships since the introduction of the sextant and wireless, has been the gyroscopic-compass. Since the first introduction of the mariner's compass by the Chinese, every ship's compass, however improved the type, has depended upon the magnetic properties of the earth for its direction, and been subject to no end of disturbing forces arising from iron and steel in the construction of the ship itself. Many marine disasters have been caused by local disturbances of which the ship-master himself was not aware. The well...