NOTE:
This section comprises compasses utilised for civilian purposes
(geology, mining industry) and also their military versions with which
fire arms can be directed - although only in a gross manner.
The following list shows only the names of all manufacturers of the
compasses exhibited here who could be identified. Other exhibits still
lack identification. Discover them while browsing around. For any
information concerning the numerous
antique
U.S. makers (like J. Hanks,
Rittenhouse and many others),
we recommend
the website
www.surveyhistory.org
and also www.antiqbuyer.com/compasses.htm.
- A -
DESCRIPTION (Instrument called in French
goniomètre-boussole
and in German
Richtkreis).
Source: French teaching manual (printed 1956) of the
Saint-Maixent military highschool.
Two similar instruments are
described herein: a French and a U.S. system (the abbrev.
G.B. stands here for
Goniomètre-Boussole
!).

|

|

Click
on the drawings for
enlarged views (attention: oversize figures - long download time)
|
PROFILE - William (Wm) A. & S. was a U.S. instrument
manufacturer who was first to produce the BRUNTON-type compass (below)
and the lensatic model
M-1938
(more
information
HERE).
PROFILE - For information concerning this compass manufacturer and many
others not listed here, visit the
Virtual
Survey Museum
(see LINKS).
PROFILE - ASKANIA is a German manufacturer (more information
HERE).
See also BAMBERG in the section AERONAUTICAL Compasses and also ASKANIA
in
MARCHING and WRIST compasses.

(Click
for
detail view of dial) |
The AskAniA
logo and the manufacturer's name

|
Technical
Data
- Diameter: 4-3/4in / 120 mm
- Weight: gr
- Divisions: 360 degrees clockwise
Period: 1921-1938
|
- B -
PROFILE - Russian compass (no other information momentarily available -
your help is needed).
The three letters "
3Mu"
are the
italic version of the upper case characters ЗMИ (i.e. ZMI,
which maybe stand for Завод механических инструментов /
zavod
mechanicheskikh instrumentov
- plant for
mechanical instruments).

|
(Pictures
Jaypee - priv. coll.) |
Technical
data
- Dimension : ... x ... x ... mm
- Weight: g
- Graduation : 360 deg. counterclockwise, only the cardinal points
North (C, sever) and South (Ю, youg) are indicated
-
|
PROFILE - Former British manufacturer of various instruments
(microscopes etc.)
in the 2nd half of the 19th C. He was located 244, High
Holborn,
London (1851-1909) and retailed also items made by Fr. Barker
& Son (below).
Pic.
at right:
Schmalcalder-type
instrument. Note the fine
asymetrical fleur
de lys.
(Pic
courtesy TML - click for enlarged view)
PROFILE - Former British manufacturer (for more information click
HERE
and in our LINKS).
Barker built prismatic survey compasses based on
Schmalcalder's
patent (green paper card). The next development was a cut-away aluminum
card.
Other examples of survey compasses made by F. BARKER & Son in
his own
name or for
retailers:
- BAKER Charles (above)
- BROWN (below),
-
Lawes
Rabjohns Ltd,
-
ABNEY
level.
See also: Marching, Escape, Pocket, Nautical and Wrist compasses.
Schmalcalder-type
surveyor's prismatic compass (late 19th C.)
- Dia.: 75 mm
- Red and green filters, hinged mirror in the vane
(Click
on pictures for enlarged
views) |

Left: F. Barker & Son 1909 catalogue
Right: a simple model without the red and green filters (early
20th C.)
(Pic.
court. S. Majatowski) |
Artillery
compass
FB2104 (built early 1980's)
(Pictures
courtesy PC / TML)
|
Current
version
made by Pyser-SGI
|
PROFILE - French inventor of a prismatic compass system with grip (no
info
momentarily available).
Description and examples: see
MORIN
and
HOULLIOT.
PROFILE - Russian compass
(no
other information momentarily available -
your help is needed).

|

Zum
Vergrößern, Bilder anklicken
Fotos D. Matiasch
|
Technical
Data
- Dimensions (Transit case): ... x ... x ... mm
- Compass dia.: mm
- Divisions: 4 x 90°
- White carrying belt (not represented)
 |
PROFILE - S. Bloch was an optician established in Strassburg
who retailed German-made instruments
Although bearing no maker's name, it is highly probable that this
item was manufactured by FENNEL or VOIGTLÄNDER because of the
typical
clinometer's shape.

Engraved on reverse:
S.
Bloch - Strassburg i/E
Until
1918 (end of
WW1),
Strasbourg was a part of the German Empire. The city's name is thus
written in German. The abbreviation " i/E " stands for "im Elsass"
i.e. in
Alsace:
 .
|

The
declination
(handwritten in the lid, see pic. below) corresponds to
Strasbourg (written in German) for the year 1914. The former figure for
1913 is still
legible. Another compass (no. 317) is known. Its cover bears the values
for Cüstrin, now Kostrzyn
nad Odrą
in
Poland.
 |
Technical
Data
- Diameter: 68 mm
- Depth: 17 mm
- Weight: 175 gr
- Serial-No.: 102
 |
PROFILE - German company located in the city of Kassel (also written
Cassel in ancient times). For more
information click
HERE.
NOTE:
This company
is NOT sponsoring this museum.
See also in the section MARCHING COMPASSES.
Pic.
at r.: The product range in 1961 (German, Engl., French and Spanish)
The oldest instrument we know of (and also own) ist this large
pocket-watch-shaped model with integrated clinometer made in the very
first years of existence of this company.

View of dial with clinometer extended. Note the shape of the
letter S (Weft / Oft) |

Reverse: Matt brown |

 |
Technical
Data
- Dimensions: 90 x 80 x 14 mm
- Glass: cambered
- Weight: ca. 120 g
- Divisions: 2 x 12 hours, counter-clockwise. In the ancient times , in
the French and German/Austrian mines, angles were measured in
hours and fractions of hours (explanations HERE).
- Clinometer with collapsible ruler
- The needle's transit lock is a disk actuated by a lever located in
the neck. It is missing on our compass. It can be seen on the picture
at left on a more recent instrument with English cardinals
and 360° graduation.
|

Pic. at right: large
standard
survey compass. The photograph was kindly
transmitted
by a visitor living in Indonesia, a country that was a Dutch colony
until 1945. This explains why the cardinals are written in Dutch (south
= Z for ZUID).
Tech.
data: 360
deg. counter-clockwise, with half-degrees divisions, 1st half of the
20th C.
Picture
courtesy Andrea Domingo
All contemporary model names (below) begin with
the abbreviation CO
(for
COmpass).
(Click
on pictures for
enlarged views)
|
Model
COVIS
(..VIS = Visier = Sight)
Below: 1954 catalogue, no. 331
The dial (enlarged pic. at left) features an old company's logo
(1930?), the letters F.W.B.S. in a cartouche. |
Technical
Data
- Dimensions: 100 x 85 x 18 mm
- Weight: 400 gr
- Divisions: 360 deg., counter-clockwise, English cardinal points
- S/N: 38926
- Level: in the base plate
- Clinometer: locking in zero position by means of a piston (compare
with FPM)
- Colour: bronze metallic (U.S. or British Army?)
The needle locking system is a large-size screw (compare with the small
piston on the catalogue picture)
|
Model
name: COHEN
(design by Dr. HENKE according to a 1954 catalogue, item
350)
(Click
on pictures for
enlarged views)
|
When fully opened (180°), both halves are connected via a lock
and build a sighting system.
|
Technical
Data
- Dimensions: 80 x 70 x 25 mm
- Weight: 300 gr
- Divisions: 360 deg., counter-clockwise
- Colour: dark green-grey (Wehrmacht ?)
- S/N: 62231
- Clinometer: no locking system
- Level: in the lid
The beautiful arrow-shaped needle was later replaced with a
simple straight one (visible in the1954 catalogue).
NOTE:
very similar
to the U.S. Forestry compass design
(ex.: LIETZ) |
Modell
(name?) with slope angle measuring device
(Click
on pictures for
enlarged views)
|
Side
view:
the slope angle measuring device is attached to two additional plates.

|
Technical
Data
- Dimensions (open): 190 x 70 mm
- Height (closed): 33 mm
- Slope angle measuring device: 2 x 90°
- Weight: 330 gr
- Divisions: 360°, counter-clockwise
- Colour: light grey
- Serial No.: 94917
- Clinometer: no locking system
- Levels: two, one on each half.
|
PROFILE - J. BROWN, 76 St. Vincent Street - GLASGOW (no other
info available). Most probably made by F. BARKER (see catalogue below).
 |

The clinometer's graduation is in inches per yard.
 |
The
compass as
shown in the BARKER catalogues
(1909 and 1919)
 |
SIGHT
COMPASS
AND CLINOMETER
Technical Data
- Diameter: 67 mm
- Height (vanes grip erected):
45 mm
- Weight: 155 g
|
Description: See LINKS for a comprehensive website in English.
Several companies built this instrument, among others
Dietzgen
and Keuffel & Esser.
(See also below the versions made in China called
DQL-8
/ DQY-1)

|


(Click
for
enlarged views) |
BRUNTON
POCKET TRANSIT
Technical Data
- Case: aluminum
- Division: four quadrants
- Dimensions: 75 x 70 x 30 mm
- Weight: 235 gr
- Levels: one tube and one spherical (compare with Dietzgen)
The original 1894 patent only featured one level tube. Later versions
had two tubes or like here one tube and one spherical capsule.
The clinometer's shape also changed several times.

|

(Click
on the
picture for enlarged views) |
Technical
Data
Plain version without
clinometer,
dated 1920-1930, S/N 588
- Divisions: 6400 mils counterclockwise
- Dimensions: 75 x 70 x 25 mm
- Weight: 240 gr |
|
 |
BRUNTON M2 (U.S. Army)
Technical
Data
- Case: aluminum
- Divisions: 6400 mils counterclockwise
- Dimensions: 75 x 70 x 30 mm
- Weight: 230 gr
Army Documentation: see M2 compass |
IMITATIONS
Copper imitations called BRINTON
or BRONTON can
be found (s.
pict.
below). They cannot be used
as measuring
instruments but only for decoration
purposes.
|
PROFILE - Russian Schmalcalder-type compass. The two letters stand for
Буссоль
Шмалькальдера. The
manufacturer was ARSENAL (
logo:
a prism) located in Kiev (see
history in Wikipedia and click on
Russian Language
for a picture
of the logo). See more examples of logos here:
NOVACON
(look for K as in Kiev).

(Pictures
Jaypee & M. Rohan)
|

|
Technical
data
Production year: 1960
Height (closed): 23mm
Height (opened): 95mm
Width: 75mm
Divisions: 360°
Weight: 200gr
(Pic. of
Tech. Data in User Instr.)
Wooden
case dim.:
128 x 97 x 38mm
(Link
to pic of compass stowed
in case)
|

PROFILE
- Swiss company created in 1871 by Friedrich BÜCHI.
Büchi's address was at that time "E. F.
BÜCHI, Sons, Optische Werkstätte, Spitalgasse 18 -
Berne"
(see
also category MARCHING Compasses).
More information will be available soon
Picture
at right
(courtesy BÜCHI): a modern instrument
LEVELS
(see also
LEVEL)
ARTILLERY
LEVEL
(made by E. F. BÜCHI Bern)
in French: SITOMÈTRE
(Click
on the pictures for
enlarged views)

FUNCTION: Depressing
the push-button
located close to the leather strap releases the compass card and causes
the metallic blade (visible from above, picture in the middle) to swing
back. |

(Function
- cont'd)
This
blade is a mirror reflecting
the image of a small tube level (see next item below). It gives thus
free vision onto a portion of the compass card (3200 mils) through a
prism and onto two portions of rulers graduated from right to left from
0 to 8 (upper row) and from 24 to 32 mils (lower row). |
The
substraction
disk for quick mechanical computing of angles difference.

 |
Technical
Data
- Dimensions: 60 x 49 x 29 mm
- Weight: 140 g
- Divisions : 2 x 3200 mils.
- Protection grid: swivelling by 180 deg.
Users
instructions
(German version - see next row).
Leather pouch
  |
SIMPLE
LEVEL

User instr. in French and German available
|

(Click
on the pictures for
enlarged views) |

Rulers are graduated from right to left from 0 to 8 (upper row) and
from 56 to 64 mils (lower row).
|
Technical
Data
- Dimensions: 60 x 49 x 29 mm
- Weight: 110 g
- Divisions: 6400 mils
Original
patent (1930) with
external level and sight
 |
(Provisional
location)
Manufacturer: Steinheil a was located in Ismaning
(near Munich
Germany, read the full story in German in Wikipedia and here
in
FENNEL).
See also the marching compass types issued to the units of the
West
German Army (Bundeswehr) since its creation in 1956:
ASKANIA,
BÉZARD,
BREITHAUPT,
BUSCH,
WILKIE
etc.
|
|
Compass
for aiming circles and theodolites

Pictures
courtesy
D. Matiasch
|

(Click
on images for enlarged views) |
Technical Data
- Overall dimensions: 90 x 80 x 18 mm
- Compass dia.: 49 mm
- Weight: 187 g.
- Divisions: 6400 MILS counter clockwise
- Adaption of declination: none (to be calculated)
- Manufacture year: 01/1986
- NSN:1290-12-127-1145
- Case material:aluminium
|
PROFILE - Burnier was Captain with the French Artillery. He invented in
1832 two instruments, a compass and a level. The latter was
widely used within the Army. A comprehensive description of both can be
found in the
Bulletin
de la
Société d'encouragement pour l'industrie nationale
(issue 1833, copy available).

The compass was described as being more practicle because smaller and
much cheaper than
Henry
Kater's
design (i.e.
Schmalcalder's
improved version). A
detail
drawing
shows an instrument with a magnifying glass (3x) through which a
rotating graduated cylinder driven by a magnetic needle can
be observed. The sighting device was a folding bow with a
horse
hair.
The level was built according to the same principle concerning the
compass but featured in addition a rotating
lever remaining
horizontal when the instrument was tilted and pointing to the value of
the elevation angle along a curved scale. An improved version appears
in Secrétan-Lerebours's 1853 catalogue (fig.
HERE)
.
It was manufactured until the 1930s.
The item displayed below seems to be the latest and most advanced
design.
(Click
on the pictures for
enlarged views) |
Sighting (see
scales detail at right)

Wenn the vanes are folded down, the horse air sighting device is
protected between two fittings
|
Model
no. 36173 - Technical Data
- Dimensions: 75
x 50 mm
- Weight: 270 g
- Lensatic system
- Vanes, numbered pair (no. 17)
- Two measuring scales: one for vertical angles (slopes) in
percentage 100 = 45°, (pic. below, left) and compass divided in
400
grades (at r.)

- Leather lanyard and articulated staff adapter
- On the top plate: window for the reading light
- Brass, lackered, with push-button brake for the compass rose. |
PROFILE - Former German company (for more information click
HERE)
 |
Basic
model of the GRUBENKOMPASS
(miner's compass, c. 1920-1930) which had in addition a "geodesic"
division (400 grades) and a clinometer. 
Technical Data
- Dimensions: 85 x 85 x 26 mm
- Weight: 160 gr
- Metallic side ruler |
Patent
for a compass system with
telescope sight (no. 908918, 1953)
This system was first defined in 1941 by Karl Martin and Dr. Helmut
Naumann.
(Click
on the drawing at
right for
an enlarged view) |
 |

Pictures Treodelmarions
(Click for
detailed view)
|
 |

|
Artillery
compass
Technical Data
Dimensions:
. Height: 100 mm
. Diameter (compass): 90 mm
- Weight: 1170 gr
- Tube levels: two
Compare with GOERZ
and ZEISS
|
- C -
PROFILE - Cary London, dia. 2.5".
Schmalcalder-type
compass.
Picture
by
courtesy of Nick Godridge
PROFILE - British manufacturer (more information
HERE).
See also Nautical compasses.
WARNING
-
CASELLA NEVER PRODUCED THE
BRUNTON
TRANSIT COMPASS.

(Click
for
detailed views -
Pictures Michael Curtis) |
 |
Technical
Data
- Dimensions (dia.): 2" (50 mm)
- Separate transit locks for both compass
and
clinometer cards
- Clinometer: There is a ‘flat’ on one
side of the instrument so that it can stand on
a flat surface.
- Markings: The instrument is signed CASELLA LONDON on the lid. On
the clinometer card is the
Patent no. 1926, whilst on the mask is no. 1909. |

Clinometer side
(Click
for
detailed views -
Pictures Michael Curtis) |

Compass side
|
Technical
Data
Late 19thC Military Pocket Altazimuth
- Diam.: 2.25 inches,
- Thickness 1.4inches
- Weight 5 ½ Oz.
Has a telescope, transit locks for compass and clinometer, compass
damper, and blue filter.
The Clinometer dial is signed L CASELLA LONDON, and the War Department
Arrow surmounting the letter ‘I’ (for India
perhaps).
The instrument has a threaded bush underneath for a tripod.
Compare
with the
Abney Level. |
PROFILE - CHAIX is the name of the founder of the French company now
called
TOPOCHAIX.
Sturdy and precise compasses for survey and forestry works (see also
Plane Table).
Numerous original documents for sale:
- Facsimile photocopy of antique
User Instructions
for the models
Universelle
and
Broussarde
and for the
Clisimètre
can be ordered (18 p., French and English).
- see complete list (patents, flyers, manuals etc.) in the French
version
HERE.

|

Pict.
Jaypee - CHAIX
private coll.
(Click on pictures for enlarged views)
|
PROTOTYPE
TechnicalData
- Material: Aluminum
- Dimensions: x x mm
- Clinometer: Pendulum
- Alidade: Plexiglas
|

Model
BROUSSARDE
Pict. at right: The pouch with a window. |

 |
Technical
Data:
Prismatic compass, model BROUSSARDE.
- Dimensions: 120 x 85 x 2 mm
- Weight: 310grs
- Serial-no.: 6639
- Level: visible while sighting in a flexible metallic mirror
- Sighting system: notch above the prism (can be fixed in the optimum
position by a knurled screw) and point at the far end of the lid.
NOTE:
The early model was square-shaped like the Universelle
(picture
HERE).
The currently produced items feature a red casing.
(Click
on the pictures for
enlarged views) |
 |
Model
BROUSSARDE with LASER POINTER
Technical Data
- identical with the basic Broussarde model but with an additional
laser pointer for high precision sightings. |
 |
The
prototype of
the UNIVERSELLE model: it was a smaller BROUSSARDE wih a dendrometer
Technical Data
- Dimensions: .. x .. x .. mm
- Weight: ... gr.
(CHAIX collection ) |

How
to use the vane
There are two scales: left side stadimetric (?), right side in MILS. It
must be held in 50cm (20in.) from the eye (lanyard around the neck) to
assess distances. Hereto one needs a measuring rod with two targets 2m
apart from each other.

50 c/m de l'oeil = 50 cm from the eye
Drawing
at right:
Measuring a tree trunk's diam.
with the mils vane. |

Viewing the card's rim through the Prism:

(Click
on the pictures for
enlarged views) |
Model
UNIVERSELLE (built c. 1970-80)
Made by Lecomte et Déglise Constructeurs
Technical Data
- Casing: aluminium
- Dimensions: 100 x 90 x 36 mm
- Serial no.: 1892
- Weight: 550 gr
- Angles measuring is made either from above through the magnifying
glass on the crystal or through the folding prism.
- Clinometer/dendrometer clutch: tiny push-button at the rear face
below the vertical MILS scale for slopes.
- Clinometer graduation: top half in grads, lower half in degrees.
- The dendrometer has two scales:
20 m (0-40) and 30 m (0-60)
- Compass rose diameter: 64 mm
- Compass graduation: 360 °
 |

(Click
on the pictures for enlarged
views) |

Clinometer (free sliding bead) with two scales: degrees and grades |
Model
RECONNAISSANCE
Technical Data
- Dimensions: 85 x 85 x 30 mm
- Weight: 170 gr
- Shock absorbing rubber casing
- The foldable grip is also a 50 mm ruler
Donation
of the French
company TOPOCHAIX to the Online Compass Museum. |
|
(Click
on the pictures for enlarged
views)
|
Theodolite
Technical Data
- Dimensions:
. Basis: 950 x 100 mm
. Height, telescope horizontal: 130 mm
- Telescope lenth: 130 mm
- Manufactured: approx. 1960's
- Optical cross, cylindrical level (seen in a brass mirror), prismatic
reading of the compass
- Clinometer: in brackets alongside the scope |
PROFILE - This item is idendical with an instrument formerly made
by
LIETZ.
The country name "JAPAN" is printed above the
"S" mark.
We suppose that LIETZ (after having been taken over
by SOKKIA) had their products made
under license in Japan.
Charvoz or Charvoz-Carsen Corp was big in the drafting side of the
business in the US.
They even owned a survey division called THS which all of their
instruments were made in Japan.
An identical instrument bears the name
LUTZ.
 |
Technical
Data
- Dimensions: 4 1/2" side length
- Divisions: quadrants (4 x 90°) on inner and outer
dials
- Clinometer: +/- 90°
- Side rulers:
. simple, inches (4 1/2)
. double (two-way), inches with decimal
divisions from 0 to 4.50 and from 4.50 to
9.0.
(Picture
Matt Reed - click on the image for an enlarged view)
|

Sokkia-Lietz catalogue |
PROFILE - Chinese company (Union Instrument Factory).
(The Online Compass Museum doesn't possess any information about this
company. Your help is welcome.
This company is kindly invited to contact the Museum.)
The text in the square window reads:
- Aluminium Precision Clinometer
- Beijing
- Public Private Company
- Union Instrument Factory
(Translation:
Jen-Wen Chang)

(Click HERE
for view of leather pouch) |
 |

Pin-hole ocular
and needle lock |
Above: Reticle
Below: The reticle as seen through the pin-hole ocular (left)
 |
Technical
Data:
- Dimensions: 150 x 58 x 17 mm
- Weight: 220 g
- Compass diameter: 40 mm
- Level: red liquid
- Release of clinometer in square window: push-button (above level)
- Locking of magnetic needle and clinometer in round window: lever on
pin-hole ocular face
- The pin-hole ocular tube can be extracted (click for detailed view):
Modern Japanese model made by Ginza TZS Tokyo
(Pic.
Alex.
Rogutskyi) |
DQL-8
/ DQY-1
Brunton-type
pocket
transit compasses
Manufacturer: HARBIN
Optical Instrument
Factory (P.R. of China)
Other contemporary products:
- DQL-4 / DQL-5 / DQL-7 (further developments of Breithaupt's marching
compass COKIL)
- DQL-2A (similar with FPM's
survey
compass, 1970)
|

DQL-8
This model was probably built in the early 1990's. On the new
version, the needle's Northern end is white.
Divisions: four quadrants
(Picture
courtesy Mason
Walters -
Click on the picture for
an
enlarged view)
|

DQY-1
Contemporary version - Note the different position of the
levels located opposite to each other across the
central pivot.
Divisions: 360 deg. counter clockwise
(Picture
courtesy
HOIF/Jaypee
-
Click on the picture for
an
enlarged view)
|
This instrument appears in a 1930 MORIN catalogue and is called
clisimètre
à collimateur respectively
niveau-lyre du
Colonel Goulier. It was used
together with
a survey compass like the CRC or
HUET
system.
When hold by the ring, the pendulum's weight ensures a
vertical
position, i.e. the horizontal position of the scales' zero references.
One can then look through a magnifying glass at a long
vertical display. There were different versions for general survey
works, for the Army, for the climbers
association Club Alpin (C.A.F., also called Vallot
model) etc.
Users instructions: Look through the magnifying glass and read the
value on the scale of slopes which can be seen alongside the actual
landscape.
Instrument
made by
the Swiss manufacturer MERIDIAN. It is called in German
Gefällmesser

Picture
courtesy
J. van Heuverswyn |
Technical
Data
- Dim.: .. x .. mm
- Weight: 240 g
- User instructions: available in French and German
- Side device: angle measured in per cent
In addition to Goulier's system, this design features a graduated plate
which makes it possible to measure directly the slope of a wall. |
PROFILE - Former French company located in the Marais district
in Paris, successor of HOULLIOT (more information
HERE).
This company manufactured many different compass types for retailers
but seldom sign them. Here are some examples:
1) Compass with vanes, clinometer and cross-staff adapter
2) Compass for unknown use
See also Pocket compasses, Marching compass Modèle
1922 and wrist compasses.
Description : Survey instrument designed for measuring right angles in
the simple version and any angle in the sophisticated version. The
latter are called in French
goniomètres
à pinnules or
pantomètres
in MORIN's catalogue. The corresponding designation in German
is
Kreuzkopf
or
Winkelkopf.
The simple version existed either in an octagonal (see example:
SECRÉTAN)
or a cylindrical body (by MORIN recommended shape). It
featured a hollow body with sighting slots in which horse hairs are
attached. Each slot faces another one which is cut in the opposite
half related to the height, so that an horizontal plane can be
determined. The cylindrical systems with a precision chapter
ring
around the body only had 4 slots. In Germany they were manufactured by
the ancestor of the company now called FPM Holding.
 
Cylindrical cross staff heads
(MORIN catalogue)
|


(Click
for enlarged views)
Octagonal and cylindrical cross staff heads
(WICHMANN catalogue)
|

(Picture
by
courtesy of Ivars Drulle)
Model with level
bubble signed
WICHMANN
(voir aussi Schubert & Vialon)
|
Technical
Data
- Diam. (top): 2.75" (77 mm)
- Diam. (basis): 3.54" (92 mm)
- Height: 4.33" (115 mm)
- Weight: 2.2 lbs (1.2 kg)
- Marking: Gebr. Wichmann Berlin, (most probably made by a
predecessor of FPM, below).
We also know of an instrument signed H. Bretschneider (Halle) and
painted grey like described in the WICHMANN catalogue
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PROFILE - Former French company that built (among others) the marching
compass
type
Modèle
1922.
The instrument shown below is called Modèle 26. It is
marked
Boussole
topographique (i.e. Survey
compass) but together
with the abbreviation M.G. for
Ministère
de
la Guerre, which meant it was
issued to the armed forces
by France's War Department (and probably also Belgium's).
For description and pictures, go to
HUET
who built a modernized
version after WWII (modified in 1957).
 |
(For
more pictures see HUET) |
Technical
data
- Dimensions: 110 x 97 x 30/80 mm
(prism folded/ erected)
- Weight: 300 gr
- Divisions : 400 grades, clockwise |