COMPASSIPEDIA
The Online
Compass Museum
The Online
Compass Museum
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 Click on the drawings for enlarged views (attention: oversize figures - long download time) |
 (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 |
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(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 - |
 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) |
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Artillery compass
FB2104 (early 1980's)
(Pictures courtesy TML)  |
Current version
made by Pyser-SGI
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 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)  |
 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:
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 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.
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Technical
Data - Diameter: 68 mm - Depth: 17 mm - Weight: 175 gr - Serial-No.: 102  |
 (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 alidade is missing on this item. The needle locking system is a rather big screw (small one 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. |
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 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 |
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  (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.  
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 (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 |
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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. 
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(Picture Jaypee - priv. coll.) |
Technical
data - Dimension : ... x ... x ... mm - Weight: g - Graduation : ... - |
Model
BÜCHI II (compare with BÜCHI I in the category
Marching compasses) A small device (two pins) allowed to measure slopes with the scale at the side of the brown bakelite central element (see techn. data) |
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Technical
Data - Dimensions : 94 x 65 x 20 - Weight: 190 g - Double inclination scale: 0-110% (positive and negative) - Distance scale: 1:50.000 = 8 km  NIEDERMANN's Patent no. 199512: Fig. 1 on page 3 |
| 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 
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| SIMPLE LEVEL (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). |
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Technical
Data - Dimensions: 60 x 49 x 29 mm - Weight: 110 g - Divisions: 6400 mils Original patent (1930) with external level and sight  |
(Click for enlarged views) |
 (Pictures courtesy D. Matiasch) |
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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 . |
(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 
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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. |
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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) |
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 Pictures Treodelmarions (Click for detailed view) |
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 (Click for detailed views - Pictures Michael Curtis) |
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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. |
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 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. |
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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) |
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Model
BROUSSARDE with LASER POINTER Technical Data - identical with the basic Broussarde model but with an additional laser pointer for high precision sightings. |
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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 °  |
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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 |
 (Click HERE for view of leather pouch) |
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 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) |
MORIN
catalogue   (Click on the pictures for enlarged views) |
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  The sight and a picture showing the center of the display on one horizontal line: 0°/oo, ∞ (infinity), 0 grades |
Military
version - Technical Data - Dimensions (folded): 95 x 50 x 10 mm - Length (deployed): 190 mm - Weight: 235 g - Scales . left: slope angles 0-400 mils (upwards and downwards) . right: angles (vertically or horizontally) 2x 0-50 grades (gon) . center (two survey scales to measure distances): one based on a man's mean height (1,70 m) and the other on a survey pole's length (2 m) |
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Unknown use |
  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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(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 |
