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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. The compass is engraved 'ANGLO-SWISS ASSOCIATION No. 45553, 1915' on the base and stamped with the War department military arrow. Made by the celebrated Manchester optician John Benjamin Dancer, son of Josiah Dancer whose business he inherited in 1835, Dancer was a scientific instrument maker who lived from 1812 to 1887 and was renowned for his many contributions to the field of optics, barometers and microscopy. Although not dated, manufacture of the MK V compass design was discontinued in 1916, so we know that this compass predates 1917. Advert in British Industries Fair Catalogue as an Optical, Scientific and Photographic Exhibit. Manufacturers of Photographic Lenses, Cameras, Prism Binoculars, Field Glasses, Opera Glasses, Telescopes, Terrestrial, Astronomical, Cinematograph Projectors, Search-light Arc Lamps, Equipment, Optical Lanterns, Aeronautical, Astronomical and Nautical Instruments, Lenses, Prisms of all kinds. (Scientific Section - Stand No. O.32) [2]
A rare design of compass by a well respected maker, its' signed Short & Mason Ltd, London on the underside. Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1855, he was later appointed Optician to HRH the Prince of Wales.In 1938 L&M was incorporated under the Indian Companies Act 1913, as a private limited company becoming wholly Indian since 1967, and still trades today on a global basis. A rare compass from the WW1 era dated 1917, it comes in it's original leather carrying case which is in very good condition with all its stitching intact.
Dating to the latter part of the 19th century, this large mahogany cased compass measuring 8.5" square was originally made for educational purposes but today makes an impressive desk ornament. The MK VI is less common and unusual to find in relatively good condition, particularly with its centre paper label completely intact, although the anti slip ring appears to be a later replacement. It is accompanied by a leather case which is in good condition with all stitching intact and has the letters "E.V.B" impressed on one side, and on the other side is written "J R Richardson R.M" in faint pen, which would have been a previous owner, possibly in the Royal Marines. It's dated 1912 and signed 'E.R. WATTS & SON, LONDON. 1912, No 3646 \ |/ /|\' on the underside and stamped 'VERNER'S PATTERN VI' on the lid. The leather case is embossed 'MARTINS-BIRMm LIMd 1916' with military arrow and has fully intact stitching and shoulder strap.
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Most examples I have seen in the past were from the WW2 period, so quite unusual to find one this early in such good condition. It has the original owners details hand scribed on the compass body, and reads 'J GARNER LT 7 no SHER FOR'. This refers to a Lieutenant J Garner of the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion Sherwood Foresters, who served from 1914 - 1920 and was awarded the British war medal & Victory medal. This is a late 19th century surveying compass signed 'T. COOKE & SONS LTD. LONDON, YORK & CAPETOWN' Ross also made some cameras from about 1855 to the late 1930s. A range of Ross Standard Reflex cameras is listed with an illustration in the 1935 British Journal Photographic Almanac, the sizes ranged from 3 + 1⁄ 2 by 2 + 1⁄ 2 inches (89mm ×64mm) up to half plate. [ quantify]
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 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.
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Unusually, it comes in a leather pouch with an impressed crest showing two crossed keys and the word 'ROMA' which apparently is the coat of arms of Vatican City, and the insignia of the papacy. I suspect this may have been a gift at some point to represent a 'moral compass' perhaps for someone of the Roman Catholic faith. Complimented by the small hand made brass hinges and fastened with a 7 shaped brass clasp, the paper compass rose is divided into four 90 degree quadrants showing all the points of the compass with a fleur de lys for North, and is in very good condition for a 200 year old compass. 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 Although designed by J M Glauser, it appears from the instruction sheet that Henry Browne & Son were the sole manufacturers, which suggests that this may have been after 1956 when Jean Maurice Glauser retired.
This large Victorian mahogany cased desk top compass measures 6¼" (160mm) dial diameter, the case being 7¼" (185mm) square by (28mm) depth, and made during the last quarter of the 19th century in London, for use as an educational aid in schools. Renamed Ross-Ensign Ltd; it produced classic 50s roll film cameras, like the Selfix andAutorange, which are still popular today with many collectors. The double broad arrow also shows it was later officially decommissioned for sale into the civilian market.
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. This type of instrument was often used by civil engineers and also artillery regiments in the British army for range and trajectory calculations to target heavy guns. This is a large prismatic surveying compass, made by Lawrence & Mayo, India, and dates to post WW2. The bowl and gimbals are of brass construction and the compass is housed in its original dovetailed mahogany box .
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