Artillery Stopwatch???

[Gary B]

My Uncle brought this back from the war. We are not sure what it is, can anyone assist?

Gary B

[Gary B]

.

[GHP]

音響測遠器
PHONOTELEMETER [by Seikosha]
The one linked is selling for 120,000 円 ($1,200)

Edit: it MIGHT be pronounced Onkyō hakatō-ki. Onkyō = sound/noise/echo/acoustics; haka= fathom/measure; tō = distant


Just parsing the kanji:

• 音響測深機 【おんきょうそくしんき (n) echo sounder; ED [Partial Match!]
• 遠 【とお】 (adj-no) distant; ...
• 器 【うつわ】 (n) ... (suf) (1) device; instrument;

音響測遠器とは空気を伝わる音の速さを基準に距離を測る一種のストップウォッチです。
　文字盤外周には上（１２時位置）から、１０００～２００００までの目盛りがあり、測遠器として使用する場 合の目盛りとなります。
　文字盤内側には下（６時位置）から、０～６０の目盛りがありストップウォッチとして使用する場合の目盛り となります。
　一例としては着弾と同時に計測を開始、音が伝わった時点で計測を止めると、そのときに針が示している目盛 りが着弾点からの距離となります。
　この音響測遠器には時計機能も付与されていますが、ほかにも数種類があり、時計機能の無いものも多く見ら れます。
　格納箱には陸軍名古屋工廠の刻印があり、格納箱蓋上面には「音響測遠器」の文字があります。
　主に陸軍砲兵隊等で使用されました。

Source

Google Translate:
The acoustic measurement far vessel is stopwatch of a kind that measure the distance based on the speed of sound traveling through the air.
From the top to the dial periphery (12 o'clock position), there is a scale of up to 1,000 to 20,000, it will be the scale of the case to be used as a measuring instrument far.
From the bottom to the dial inside (6 o'clock), 0 there is a scale of ~ 60 will be the scale of the case to be used as a stopwatch.
Starting at the same time measuring the landing as an example, when stopping the measurement when the sound was introduced, the memory needle indicates is the distance from the impact point at that time.
This is the acoustic measurement instruments far has been granted also clock function but, in addition to there are several kinds, nor I seen many things without a clock function.
The storage boxes there is a stamp of Army Nagoya arsenal, to store box lid top there is a character of "acoustic Hakato device".
Mainly and it was used by the Army Artillery and the like.

--Guy

[GHP]

I see it is dated 1940 and has what looks like a Tokyo proofmark

昭和十五
Showa 15 (1940)

東
Tō (Tōkyō)

--Guy

[Gary B]

Hi Guy,

Thanks so much for the information. My Uncle was stationed in Japan after the war and always thought it had to do with the artillery.

Gary B

[Jareth]

I'm thinking more for aviation