WWII AN 5735-1 Directional Gyro - General Motors Ternstedt

One early AN 5735-1 Directional Gyro instrument as manufactured by General Motors Ternstedt for the war effort that is missing a couple of parts but makes for an interesting display unit.

This one appears to be a 1942 contract variant as denoted by the 42 prefix on the data plate on the rear of the unit. There are two data plates on this case, the left of which denotes the part number (T-95090) and contract number and serial number. The right hand data tag denotes the General Motors Ternstedt manufacturing information.

Sperry Gyroscope was one of the original prime makers of the AN 5735 directional gyro. Given the government's excessive need for this instruments (which were found in everything from the lowly basic trainers like the BT-13 and in every transport, bomber and fighter aircraft up through the Boeing B-29 Superfortress) it became pretty clear Sperry couldn't meet the excessive demand. Contracts for said were awarded to both General Motors (who tooled up a special instrument division just for aero instrument contracts) as well as JAHCO or Jack & Heinz Corporation. All three firms churned out thousands of these instruments in a short amount of time. 

The early instruments were interesting in that they were all metal cased. By late war many of them were in plastic cases. This is an early instrument. 

This one - missing a couple of pieces but that's what makes it a great display piece. Obvious missing would be the cover for the "hole" in the front case, along with the glass and the brass snap ring that kept the glass in place. I don't know where these pieces went - this is how I got the instrument.  The missing cover plate over the directional wheel along with the glass allows a great view of the internal workings of the precision gyroscope - and it's all there and appears to be working. It rides around nicely on precision gearing and rides nicely upon the gimbal and bearings. Lots of bronze and steel and machined bits. Once can easily see the precision components that made up this piece. The directional knob can be turned as well with no hesitation or binding. 

Graphics on this instrument are bright white and appear to be NON-RADIUM. No paperwork for this one save for an old instrument OH tag on the top of the case from a shop out of Detroit.

Can't hear any clunking or rattling around on the inside of the instrument.  No additional mods or drop damage to case. No evidence of water or dust or bugs or dirt inside - just a little dust.  We'd kept this as a parts source for other 5735 units but at the end of the day we've got more than enough directional gyro instruments and no longer need to build and mix and match. 

I can't think of a trainer, transport or bomber that didn't use the AN 5735-1 gyro during the war years through present day. 

What you see in the photo series is representative what you get.  Ships cheapest USPS Priority Mail unless you direct otherwise.  Questions? Please ask seller. And thanks for looking!