Friend wants info on compass from auction

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by springfld.arsenal, Apr 25, 2018.

  1. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    A friend bought this 3.25” diameter compass at auction. The longish auction description isn’t correct and I’m not posting it yet to avoid confusing you and contaminating my search for an accurate description and approximate date of manufacture. I’m pretty sure of my own dating of this item but the exact purpose of this particular compass isn’t clear to me. Ebay was no help, I looked at, I think, every compass listed and found the majority to be mass-produced fakes from India.

    This is basically a good quality, real compass, But the maker’s name may have been removed from the face where the dark smudge is, just left of the pivot. I have no idea whether the wood box it sits in is original or not since this is the only photo available now. It looks to me like some other object was in/on the box or top piece of wood, looking at the circular “shadow” of larger diameter than the compass that’s there now. New owner hasn’t received it yet.

    C913E36F-C82E-4077-BDB3-5917B5A6EAE2.png
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2018
    Christmasjoy and judy like this.
  2. afantiques

    afantiques Well-Known Member

    Miner's compass?
     
  3. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Thx, I dunno, but that gives me another avenue to take in googleville. He’s primarily interested in about when it was made. I’m guessing if I google some of the big instrument maker names and “compass” another will turn up. Goetz, Zeiss, etc.
     
    Christmasjoy likes this.
  4. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Some similarity to Van Cort's Lewis & Clark survey compass, but not it. Does look like a surveyor compass, though.
     
    Christmasjoy likes this.
  5. Huntingtreasure

    Huntingtreasure Well-Known Member

    3BAD4D66-C388-45FE-BAB3-50C78B5BDD6F.jpeg
    This was one I saw with the heart shaped arm. (Or whatever the proper name is)
     
  6. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

  7. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Thanks, that is the same “type” in that it has an operator-moveable semicircle graduated to 90 degrees in either direction from 0. And that arm shape. I’m pretty sure the mounting means it is for surveying or terrain mapping with the compass on a plane table. Good find!
     
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  8. Huntingtreasure

    Huntingtreasure Well-Known Member

    EBD678DB-9296-48A1-9AF5-1CEFF275E556.jpeg I can’t see if the wood has been cut on the sides, but a cover like this would explain the outer “shadow”. Maybe it’s been damaged or lost.
     
  9. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Been reading up on compasses and found civilseek.com which has a description of a surveyor’s compass, the dial markings of which match friend’s compass.

    “In a Surveyor Compass, the ring is divided into four quadrants and graduations are made from 0 to 90 degrees in each quadrant.

    0 degrees is marked at the North and South points, and 90 degrees is marked at the east and west points.”

    So knowing the species seems like major progress; narrows things down a lot. I did look thru what must have been over 100 surveyor’s compasses on the link HollyB. gave above (thanks again!) and will have to do that again. Information overload!
     
    Huntingtreasure likes this.
  10. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Ok, enuf time has passed so I’m not worried about the auction description influencing you. Note this is the auction site description only and does not necessarily reflect the opinion, if any, of this poster. I’m interested in your opinions, however.

    2E6A71AC-47C1-4681-BA70-19094025049C.jpeg
     
  11. Huntingtreasure

    Huntingtreasure Well-Known Member

    I don’t know what, if anything they give to back up that description. I would not accept that to be true, without something else. When your friend receives it maybe we can learn more. It’s difficult to say.
     
  12. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    I’ve posted my questions on the Company of Military Historians forum and sent a link to the director of the US Army Artillery Museum at Ft. Sill. OK. If I get any info I’ll mention that here. I have my own opinions, of course, but no point in mixing them in here at this time.
     
    Huntingtreasure likes this.
  13. Huntingtreasure

    Huntingtreasure Well-Known Member

    Would love to hear the response. Maybe once your friend receives this, there maybe some kind of new clues somewhere on back or sides.
     
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