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Details
About the Nautical Brass Ruler with Code Flags
These are the signal flags ships use to talk to each other. Each one stands for a letter, and flown on its own it also carries a message: the Port of Milford Haven's signals guide lists A as "I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed" and V as "I require assistance". Their main job is communication between vessels; their use in regattas and races comes second.
Read along the ruler and you can spell a name or a boat's name in nautical flags. The flags run in order from A to Z, so it doubles as a handy reference when you're learning them.
The scales run from 0 to 30cm along the top edge, marked in millimetres, and from 0 to 12 inches along the bottom edge, with fractions of an inch. The words International Code of Signals sit at the 30cm end, next to a round hole for hanging it on a hook.
It has a brushed, gold-tone brass finish that is lacquered to help slow tarnishing. Wipe it with a soft cloth, dry or barely damp, and don't use metal polish or abrasive cleaners, which can wear through the lacquer and the coloured flags.
As nautical gifts go, this one gets used: a desk piece for a sailor, a yacht club member or anyone learning their flags, and a neat 30cm brass ruler for a chart table, an office or a study. Many gifts for sailors are ornaments, so as sailing gifts go, this one is useful.
All 26 letter flagsA to Z, each with its letter.
30cm and 12 inchesMetric top, imperial bottom.
Lacquered brassWipe clean with a soft cloth.
Hanging holeAt the 30cm end.
Specifications
The details
Product typeRuler
MaterialBrass, lacquered, brushed gold-tone finish
Length30cm scale (12 inches)
Flags26 International Code of Signals letter flags, A to Z, with letters
ScalesCentimetres and millimetres on the top edge, inches on the bottom
HangingRound hole at the 30cm end
SKUNH-4216
small note
Nice enough thing and the delivery side was fine.Perfect gift
All good thanks, came fast & works. The size & finish were the main things I noticed after unpacking.Nice thing
The order did what I needed without any fuss.Good Thing
Not flashy, but it did the job for us. My brother knew straight away why I had picked it.Every review is shown, low scores included. The breakdown chart appears from 10 reviews.
FAQs
Questions about the Nautical Brass Ruler with Code Flags
What is the ruler made from?
Brass, with a brushed gold-tone finish that's lacquered to help slow tarnishing. The 26 code flags run along its length in colour, each with its letter, so it's both a working ruler and a flag reference.
Which measurements does it show?
Centimetres from 0 to 30 along the top edge, marked in millimetres, and inches from 0 to 12 along the bottom edge, with fractions of an inch. So you can measure in metric or imperial without turning it round.
How long is it?
The scale is 30cm, or 12 inches. The brass runs a little past each end of the scale, as on most rulers, and there's a round hanging hole at the 30cm end for a hook on the wall.
What design does it have?
All 26 letter flags of the International Code of Signals, A to Z in order, each with its letter printed underneath, and the words International Code of Signals at the 30cm end.
What do the flags mean?
Each flag stands for a letter, and flown on its own it also carries a message. The Port of Milford Haven's guide lists A as "I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed" and V as "I require assistance".
Will the brass tarnish?
The lacquer helps slow tarnishing. Clean it with a soft, dry or barely damp cloth only: metal polish and abrasive cleaners can wear through the lacquer and the coloured flags, and that's when brass starts to dull.
Is it a good gift for a sailor?
Yes. It's a practical nautical gift for sailors, yacht club members, sea cadets or anyone learning their flags, and unlike most nautical ornaments it gets used, on a desk or a chart table.
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