Battenberg's course indicator
Datecirca 1890
Inventory NumberDW0529
ClassificationCourse Indicator
Subject
Maker
Elliott Brothers
1853 - 1916
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions6 x 33.2 x 30.6 cm (2 3/8 x 13 1/16 x 12 1/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriesoriginal mahogany case; case key (made from an old one by Richard Ketchen in December 1997)
DescriptionInstrument stored in original mahogany box. Lid is attached with two brass hinges. The box closes with a brass hook and is accompanied by replica key. Inside the lid of the box are two wooden pieces and a rotating brass piece to hold a brass ruler, marked 1 to 35.
The main frame of the instrument is a brass circle with directions N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW marked in equal increments around the circumference. The circle is also divided into degrees. N and S are both marked 0° and E and W are both marked 90°. In between are two scales ascending from 0 and descending from 90.
Inside the circle is a white disc with alternating red and black straight lines carved into its surface. Down the center of the disc is a columnthat extends the length of the diameter and is framed with two black lines, and a third down the center. The column is further divided into 32 sections by short black lines. Some of the sections are numbered on both sides of the center of the disc as follows: in the right hand column, from the circumference toward the center: 8, 6, 4, 2 and in the left hand column from the circumference toward the center: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 8, 6, 4.
Three brass arms at different heights rotate across the surface of the white disc. The bottom two arms are the length of the diameter of the circle and each has a scale from 1 to 15 engraved on the top surface. The topmost arm is longer and has a rotating brass circle attached to the end such that the arc of the circle lines up with a corresponding arc of the large circular brass frame. The arm has a scale from 1 to 3 engraved in .2 increments on the top. The circle at the end is scaled from 0 to 16 and from 16 back to 0 in increments of 2.
The main frame of the instrument is a brass circle with directions N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW marked in equal increments around the circumference. The circle is also divided into degrees. N and S are both marked 0° and E and W are both marked 90°. In between are two scales ascending from 0 and descending from 90.
Inside the circle is a white disc with alternating red and black straight lines carved into its surface. Down the center of the disc is a columnthat extends the length of the diameter and is framed with two black lines, and a third down the center. The column is further divided into 32 sections by short black lines. Some of the sections are numbered on both sides of the center of the disc as follows: in the right hand column, from the circumference toward the center: 8, 6, 4, 2 and in the left hand column from the circumference toward the center: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 8, 6, 4.
Three brass arms at different heights rotate across the surface of the white disc. The bottom two arms are the length of the diameter of the circle and each has a scale from 1 to 15 engraved on the top surface. The topmost arm is longer and has a rotating brass circle attached to the end such that the arc of the circle lines up with a corresponding arc of the large circular brass frame. The arm has a scale from 1 to 3 engraved in .2 increments on the top. The circle at the end is scaled from 0 to 16 and from 16 back to 0 in increments of 2.
Signedengraved along instrument arm: BATTENBERG'S COURSE INDICATOR / ELLIOT BRO. INC LONDON No 44
FunctionThe Battenberg course indicator enables users to calculate the speed and course of other moving vessels using the course and speed of the users' own vessel.
For more information on the history, use, and design of the instrument, see the Wikipedia page.
For more information on the history, use, and design of the instrument, see the Wikipedia page.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Saul Moskowitz, Marblehead, Massachusetts, December 1, 1977 (catalog 115, #178). Donated to CHSI 1985.
Historical AttributesInvented by Admiral Louis Alexander Battenberg R.N. (b. 1854). Examples were apparently used during World War I. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich has Nos. 334, 3002 (dated 1925/), 3144, and 3326.
Jakob Amsler
Date: circa 1906
Accessories: instrument is in four (4) parts; the rail is in own box and is inventory # 2006-1-0002b; letter from Prof. William Brower containing the complete history of ownership and use (missing)
Object number: 2006-1-0002a
Gebrüder Haff
Date: 1960-1969
Accessories: plush-lined, hard green case
white card with instrument information in case
Object number: 1999-1-0005
G. Coradi
Date: circa 1911
Accessories: conversion table on white card in instrument case; instrument case
Object number: 1999-1-0068
Gabriel & Edward Davis
Date: 1830-1850
Accessories: circular mahogany case with one straight edge
Object number: DW0386
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1940
Accessories: case
Object number: 1997-1-0446
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1940
Accessories: card with instrument info and conversion table; photocopy of letter from Dr. Joachim Fischer to William J.H. Andrewes, dated 12 May 1997; photocopy of extract from Dr. Joachim Fischer's inventory of integrating instruments included with the letter
Object number: 1997-1-0444
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1940
Accessories: card with instrument information and conversion table
Object number: 1997-1-0445
Gottlieb Coradi
Date: circa 1920
Accessories: pieces of the front of black leather case with clasps; lid of case with paper data sheet; pieces of black leather case lined with green velvet
Object number: 2004-1-0345
Walter Balcke
Date: 1955
Accessories: mahogany box with plexiglass lid; pencil; eraser; box of lead; putty ball; cleaning cloth; cardboard instruction card
Object number: 1997-1-1619