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This type of compass was a development of Schmalcalder's Patent compass of 1812 which introduced the idea of using an optical prism, combined with a sighting vane, to improve accuracy when taking bearings. Dating to the early 20th century, this non prismatic compass is very similar in dial design to the early Verners pattern examples and reads 'NIGHT MARCHING COMPASS H.W.W. 1907' and belonged to Australian Surveyor Herbert Wrake Walker. Not only is this Glauser MK 4 a rare compass, but it's also in excellent condition and comes complete with its leather case & most of the original service kit.
Wood cased compasses are for the most part unsigned, but this is a very nice Mariners style compass in a mahogany case which has a makers name reading ‘ Casella, London, Instrument maker to the Admiralty’ around the dial centre.
EXECUTIVE AWARDS
Not only a sought after compass for a collector, but still practical today for hill walking and similar pursuits, it comes in a leather case which is also in good condition with all stitching intact. Price In good condition including its leather case, the only blemish being some scuffing around the edges of the green card dial. Set in a mahogany case, with an attractive paper sunburst dial, divided into 90 degree quadrants and displaying 32 cardinal and inter-cardinal points, it's in very good condition with a glass crystal retained by a brass bezel, and a shapely blued steel needle engraved 'N' & 'S' in gold letters. The bowl and gimbals are of brass construction and the compass is housed in its original dovetailed mahogany box . Made toward the latter part of the 19th century, this brass cased green card dial prismatic compass with folding sight vane is inscribed "Chas Owen Optician 46 & 48 City Rd EC" and "W. H. H. Waters" on the reverse.
A large mid 19th century gimbal mounted ships compass of impressive proportions, signed 'J. Stevenson, Compass Adjuster, Aberdeen' on the card dial.However please note that over the years the base section of the mahogany case has warped slightly producing a gap between the lid & base, ( see photos) which although noticeable doesn't detract too much from what is a quite splendid Victorian compass with rare novelty value. Not much information is available on the early history of the company in London, but its reputation as makers of high quality scientific instruments was well known. Records show that L & M opened its first Indian office in Calcutta in the year 1877 and rapidly became India's leading opticians with a prestigious client list that included Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Neru.
During WWI and WWII Ross Limited produced pattern 373 and 373B "Officer of the Watch" telescopes for the Royal Navy. A quite unique compass by an important instrument maker also celebrated for his nautical instruments.
NAUTICAL DECOR
In very good condition including its leather case, this is a substantial instrument, which weighs 500 grams including the case, and measures 70mm in diameter across the main body. Price In 1826, Simms joined with Edward Troughton to form the famous partnership of Troughton & Simms, dating this compass to the early 19th century. Manufactured between 1915 -1930 by Francis Barker & Son for the Indian Army which was still under British rule, it is inscribed 'Mk VII' on the lid and 'M.I.O 1917' on the base, along with a military crowfoot above an 'I', indicating it was part of the Indian Army. This particular model is the M88 which is made from a lightweight yet robust aluminium alloy, and has 5 active self luminous tritium lights enabling full night and day operation. He was also a personal friend and admirer of the final German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II, having become acquainted in the early 1900s after he wrote favourabley of Wilhelm in his memoirs. (A Collection of books inscribed to Brigadier Wallscourt Hely-Hutchinson Waters, by Kaiser Wilhelm II were sold at auction in 2018) see photo of one example.
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