Warbird Information Exchange

I recently bought a a big lot of aircraft instruments and ran across a Custer Statoscope. It was made in 1912 and was used to show show whether a balloon or dirigible was ascending or descending in flight. I have searched the internet and all of the museums online and I don't have any pictures.. I think this item might be extremly rare.. Anyone have any info..


The first of Levitt Luzern Custer's many inventions was the Custer Bubble Statoscope. Its purpose: register the rise and fall of an aircraft. Since it was without moving parts and was much sturdier than models being used at the time, Custer was awarded a patent in 1912 at the age of 24. This invention was to be used in balloons, for which he had a passion. Custer was involved in the now-famous flight when he and a group of men from the Dayton Journal flew in a balloon called Hoosier, taking with them a small printing press. While flying, they printed three "sky editions" of the Journal. It was the only newspaper ever printed in the air.

As aviation grew, so did the popularity of Custer's Statoscope. The first models were sent to the Army. After testing proved the value of the device, the Navy began to order the Statoscope.