Accession No

5949

Brief Description

surveying prismatic compass; first half 20th C

Origin

unknown

Maker

unknown

Class

surveying; magnetism; earth sciences

Earliest Date

1900

Latest Date

1950

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, oxidised brass); paint; glass; paper (card); hide (leather); cloth (velvet)

Dimensions

(Object): length 102 mm; width 80 mm; depth (when closed) 33 mm; depth (with sight open) 95 mm (Case): length 115 mm; width 90 mm; depth 39 mm

Special Collection

Brian Harland collection

Provenance

Donated on or before 08/07/2003.

Inscription

'PATENT No 1926.' (on object)
'W. BRIAN HARLAND
SEDGWICK MUSEUM
CAMBRIDGE' (on case)

Description Notes

Prismatic compass used for surveying with air filled suspended compass face; first half 20th C

Black painted oxidised brass body, with hinged vertical slit sight, hinged prism and brass knobs. Compass locks when sight is folded down and has separate locking pin on side. Glass compass face window shows green card compass face, marked with 0-360 scale divided into 0.5 degree intervals, with printed compass points. North end of needle at 180˚ with fleur de lys motif. Glass window with hair shows outer dial, which appears fixed. Outer dial made of white card, scale shown in window from 25-70˚ and carries inscription 'PATENT No 1926'. Scale numbers written in mirror image on both dials for use with the prism viewer.
The compass comes with a red velvet lined leather carry case which has 'W. BRIAN HARLAND, SEDGWICK MUSEUM, CAMBRIDGE' stamped on the front and very faintly on the back.

Condition good, a few small paint chips on compass body; case condition good to fair, some scratches and wear on the leather and velvet

References

Events