An impressive Lionel Corporation Type TL Taffrail Log, New York, mounted with its original towed rotor (“fish”) on a polished mahogany display stand. Used aboard ships to measure distance traveled through the water, these precision mechanical instruments were standard navigation equipment before electronic logs and GPS. The large dial records nautical miles with a subsidiary tenths register, functioning much like a marine odometer. Dating from the mid-20th century, this complete and well-presented example combines nautical history with industrial craftsmanship, making it an outstanding display piece for collectors of maritime antiques and navigation instruments.