A WWII Kriegsmarine thermometer by Plath of Hamburg, Germany, circa 1940.

With sprung leather padding to protect the thermometer from hitting the side of the ship or u-boot when taking measurements of sea temperature.

Marked: C. PLATH HAMBURG M933 (“Sun-Shooter” trademark). Nr 602

Height: 37 cm.

Diameter: 12 cm.

The C. Plath company was originally founded in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, in 1837 by David Filby, Filby sold the company to Carl Christian Plath in 1862. Carl Plath concentrated on the manufacture of sextants, magnetic compasses, binnacles and barometers. Carl Plath was awarded the Gold Medal at the Hamburg Trade and Industry Exhibition in 1889 for his nautical instruments, and silver medal at Paris World Exhibition in 1900. The Plath “Sun-Shooter” trademark was registered in October, 1905. C. Plath remained a family owned company until 1962, when it was taken over by by Litton Industries,  it is now part of Sperry Marine of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.