Japanese 4cm Side View Telescope from Battleship Nagato-Yes, that is right, this is actually from the Japanese Battleship Nagato-It was liberated from a gun battery during the winter of 1945-46 by a crew member of the USS Delta. For the future benefit of collectors, the crew member placed a hand written note in the telescope’s storage box. This note attests to the liberation of the “periscope” and the note is signed the crew members initials, C.M. The testament, in full, is as follows:
“This periscope came from a gun turret on the Nagato, a battleship in WWII. Taken from that ship in the winter of 1946-45 by crew member of the USS Delta (AR-9). C.M.”
This exact item is documented in volume 4 of my 4 volume book series titled “The Stories Behind the Treasures, The Making of a Collectorholic”, specifically on pages 1406-1408. It is housed in its original wooden box with manufacturer identification plate affixed to the top lid. A second plate mentions that it is approved by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The inside of the upper lid has a blue paper label which lists the contents. There is of course the telescope, two rubber eye pieces and a wooden dowel inside. There is writing on the exterior of the box as well, one word that I can translate reads “rear”. The box measures 8” by 7 ¼” by 3 ½”. Excellent and historical!