surveyor's compass
Datecirca 1813
Inventory NumberDW0452
ClassificationSurveyor's Compass
Subject
Maker
W. & S. Jones
fl. 1791 - 1859
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsclosed: 4 × 20.5 × 18.3 cm (1 9/16 × 8 1/16 × 7 3/16 in.)
blue board box: 7.6 × 23.5 × 20.3 cm (3 × 9 1/4 × 8 in.)
blue board box: 7.6 × 23.5 × 20.3 cm (3 × 9 1/4 × 8 in.)
Material
DescriptionPlain surveyor's compass with folding sights and crossed bubble levels set into mahogany housing. The silvered compass is bilevel with eight points labeled in English initials with East and West reversed. The lower level is divided 0°-90°-0°-90°-0° every 10° and the upper level is 0°-360° every 1°. The bar needle is on edge and has a jeweled cap. There is a needle brake operated by a button when the lid of the case closes down. The brass sighting vanes are slit and window with wires intact. A brass and glass bubble level is set into the wood at the South side of the compass; and another is set on the East side. On the West side, there is a pair of gun sights in the form of two small notched brass rods.
The interior of the lid is cut-away to make space for the folded vanes and gun sights. There are two heavy brass latch hooks.
The interior of the lid is cut-away to make space for the folded vanes and gun sights. There are two heavy brass latch hooks.
Signedengraved on wind rose: W. & S. Jones, 30 Holborn, / LONDON.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Saul Moskowitz, Marblehead, Massachusetts, November 16, 1972. Donated to CHSI 1985.
W. & L. E. Gurley
Date: ca. 1884
Accessories: solar attachment; case; level; green filter; sun shade; tripod (5163b)
Object number: 5163a
Buff & Berger
Date: 1871-1898
Accessories: plane table compass; sun shade; dust cap
Object number: 5153
Andrew Yeates
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: case, second eyepiece, plumb bob
Object number: 5235
Thomas Whitney
Date: circa 1817
Accessories: wooden case with key.
Object number: 5207
Buff & Buff Manufacturing Company
Date: circa 1905
Accessories: wood case; leather case; right-angle prism; plumb bob; oil flask; tripod (5174b)
Object number: 5174a
W. & L. E. Gurley
Date: 1900-1906
Accessories: bubble level; plane table compass; case
Object number: 1997-1-1882
John H. Temple
Date: 1850-1870
Accessories: carrying case; dust cap; leather straps; tripod (5166b)
Object number: 5166a
E. S. Ritchie & Sons
Date: 1919
Accessories: case
Object number: 5330b
W. & L. E. Gurley
Date: 1900-1906
Accessories: dust cap; bubble level; plane table compass; needle in wood handle; case
Object number: 5155