Accession No

2671

Brief Description

compass, by E. Kraft & Son, 1907

Origin

Vienna; Austria

Maker

E. Kraft and Son

Class

magnetism

Earliest Date

1907

Latest Date

1907

Inscription Date

1907

Material

wood; metal (brass, steel); glass

Dimensions

box length 96mm; breadth 97mm; thickness 29mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Inscription

‘E. KRAFT + SOHN IN WIEN 1907’
‘Compass used by CMD throughout his Arabian travels’ (MS on base)

Description Notes

Silvered rose graduated 90˚ - 0 - 90˚ from North through East to South. Upper scale graduated 0 - 360˚, subdivided to 1˚, and 0 - 24. Half-blued needle (very rusty). Locking bar. North indicator arm. Glazed case. Set into wooden box with hinged lid, pivoting slit and pinhole sights and clip fastening.

References

Events

Description
Magnetic compass
The magnetic compass consists of a magnetic needle attached to a compass card, graduated into angular points, and is used for navigation. The first known dry pivoted compass is dated as early as 1269.

The compass indicates the direction of the magnetic pole but there are problems caused by the difference between magnetic and true north (true north being the useful reading). The variation between the two must be calculated in order to obtain an accurate reading. True north was sometimes simply offset from the direction of magnetic north, but this did not allow for geographical variation. For this, charts were needed. The iron used in building ships during 19th century also led to problems because the magnetism of iron affected the compasses on board.
18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson on 18/10/2002

FM:44562