azimuth compass
Date1790-1823
Inventory NumberDW0420
ClassificationMagnetic Compass
Subject
Maker
Thomas Smith
fl. 1790 - 1823
Repaired by
Thomas Parnell (I)
?
fl. 1784 - 1811
Repaired by
Thomas Parnell (II)
fl. 1840 - 1869
Repaired by
James & Alexander Walker
fl. 1823 - 1859
Repaired by
Thomas Blunt I
?
fl. 1760 - 1823
Repaired by
Thomas Blunt II
fl. 1801 - 1824
Repaired by
Newmarch Lee
fl. 1824 - 1834
Repaired by
John Bon
fl. 1840 - 1846
Repaired by
Peter A. Feathers
1821-1904
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions35 x 24.5 x 27 cm (13 3/4 x 9 5/8 x 10 5/8 in.)
Box: 25.5 × 31.5 × 32 cm (10 1/16 × 12 3/8 × 12 5/8 in.)
Box: 25.5 × 31.5 × 32 cm (10 1/16 × 12 3/8 × 12 5/8 in.)
Material
DescriptionMariner's compass with azimuth sights is mounted in brass gimbals and preserved in a mahogany box. The box has cut-away handle grips. The cover is present and padded with green wool.
The compass freely turns inside its box. The azimuth sights fold down. Each has a slider. One slider has a clear lens; the other a dark filter.
The compass glass is held in place by red putty.
The compass bowl is painted dark blue on the exterior and black on the interior. A lead disk is fixed to the underside. The lubber's line is marked on a silver strip of metal that is hinged to move up forward and back from the floating dry card. It is operated by a brass handle on the exterior of the bowl. When positioned against the card, it keeps the card from rotating.
The compass card is black-and-white with a wind rose of 128 points and a divided circle of 0-90-0-90-0° every 5° printed along the limb. A silvered band on the circumference is engraved with divisions 90-0-90-0-90-0° every 1°.
The bar needle has a jeweled bearing and is screwed to the rim of the silvered band on the underside and has a sliding brass weight to balance it. Lots of red sealing wax is also stuck to the underside of the card. There are two inscriptions in brown ink on the underside of the card dated 1827 and 1840. These belong to repairers of the instrument.
The original maker of the compass card has his imprint in the center of the wind rose. Stuck on top of this (like so many watch papers) are five paper rings with the imprints of four other nautical instrument makers who repaired the mariner's compass.
The compass freely turns inside its box. The azimuth sights fold down. Each has a slider. One slider has a clear lens; the other a dark filter.
The compass glass is held in place by red putty.
The compass bowl is painted dark blue on the exterior and black on the interior. A lead disk is fixed to the underside. The lubber's line is marked on a silver strip of metal that is hinged to move up forward and back from the floating dry card. It is operated by a brass handle on the exterior of the bowl. When positioned against the card, it keeps the card from rotating.
The compass card is black-and-white with a wind rose of 128 points and a divided circle of 0-90-0-90-0° every 5° printed along the limb. A silvered band on the circumference is engraved with divisions 90-0-90-0-90-0° every 1°.
The bar needle has a jeweled bearing and is screwed to the rim of the silvered band on the underside and has a sliding brass weight to balance it. Lots of red sealing wax is also stuck to the underside of the card. There are two inscriptions in brown ink on the underside of the card dated 1827 and 1840. These belong to repairers of the instrument.
The original maker of the compass card has his imprint in the center of the wind rose. Stuck on top of this (like so many watch papers) are five paper rings with the imprints of four other nautical instrument makers who repaired the mariner's compass.
Signedin center of wind rose: T. SMITH, 53. Old Gravel Lane, WAPPING
on paper ring: T. BLUN[T] Cornhill [LOND]O[N]
on paper ring: THOS. PA[RN]ELL, HERMITAGE BRIDGE, LONDON.
on 2 paper rings, one blue: J. & A. WALKER. / 72, South Castle-street, Liverpool.
on paper ring: FEATHER'S / NO. 10 DOCK ST. DUNDEE.
in brown ink on underside of compass card: Newmarch Lee Hull / March 10th 1824
in brown ink on underside of compass card: John Bon / Dundee / April 14. 1840
Inscribed
Curatorial RemarksThe brass cylinder was once used as temporary base for the azimuth compass. It is pictured in a few of the photos attached to this object. As this was not an original part of the instrument, Sara Schechner determined that it should be deaccessioned (01/12/2015) and it was on 01/13/2015 by Sara Frankel.
FunctionUsed primarily aboard official ships of the Royal Navy in exploration, mapping, & hydrographic service. Sun sights as references permitted accurate measurements of magnetic variation.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Saul Moskowitz, Marblehead, Massachusetts, March 31, 1971 (catalog 102, #128). Donated to CHSI 1985.
Historical AttributesSmith only produced very few of these azimuth compasses.
Samuel Thaxter & Son
Date: 1825-1843
Object number: DW0519
Thomas Whitney
Date: circa 1817
Accessories: wooden case with key.
Object number: 5207
E. S. Ritchie & Sons
Date: 1919
Accessories: case
Object number: 5330b
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: ca. 1884
Accessories: solar attachment; case; level; green filter; sun shade; tripod (5163b)
Object number: 5163a
Edmund Culpeper
Date: 1700-1737
Accessories: case
Object number: DW0676
Thomas Jones (I)
Date: circa 1835
Accessories: case
Object number: DW0677
