SURVEY & ARTILLERY (cont'd)

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- L -

LADOIS

PROFILE - Former French company (69, rue Gambetta Malakoff -Paris), late 19th C.
The Online Compass Museum doesn't possess any information about this company - your help is needed.
LADOIS produced also (or was a retailer?) small pocket compasses. Below: the famous General PEIGNÉ System and a tacheometer.


This model is unfortunately in relative bad condition: The mirror in the lid is missing just like one of the folding rulers on the lid. It had not the typical additional plunger-type needle brake of the Peigné system but only a locking lever at the side.

(Use of copies of the pictures by courtesy of the eBay seller cl1663)

Technical Data
- Diameter: c. 85 mm
- Depth: c. 25 mm
- Divisions: 360 deg.
- Clinometer: not visible
- Weight: c. 350 g




TACHÉOMÈTRE (c. 1890)
Technical Data
(...)

Signature: "Ladois-Froment à Paris"



(Pictures by courtesy of Moshe Fogel)
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L.A.T. - Les Accessoires Topographiques

PROFILE - Former French company located 44, rue Etienne DOLET - 94230 CACHAN.
No information about this company momentarily available - your help is needed.


L.A.T. produced materiel for survey works. Picture of an advertisement for survey materiel HERE.


LAVAUZELLE

PROFILE - Lavauzelle is a French company (printed matters, stationary items). It was created in 1835 and was many years France's War Department's sole supplier for maps, official documents, specialized literature etc.
This ruler for WW1 officers with slope table in degrees (compare with Général Peigné's system).


 Technical Data
Dimensions: x mm
Map reading device
British and Russian measuring units.

LAWES RABJOHNS Ltd.

PROFILE - British retailer. The Lawes Brothers started their business in 1919. The Dacres Rabjohns started their business in 1922. In 1936 they registered a joint marketing company called Associated Drawing Materials and Equipment Ltd (Admel). In 1947 the Lawes Brothers and Dacres Rabjohns merged to form Lawes Rabjohns Ltd and in 1964 Lawes Rabjohns Ltd was re-named Admel International Ltd (Source: Gilai Collectibles).
SCHMALCALDER type surveyor's compass, i.e. with prism and alidade (see also F. Barker catalogue)


Technical Data
- Diameter: 86 mm
- Depth (closed, with lid): 30 mm
- Height (alidade upright): 100 mm
- Weight: 265 gr
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LEMAIRE

The French company LEMAIRE (see Wrist, Pocket and Marching compasses) built also among other instruments an artillery level called sitomètre (see next entry).

LEVELS

These instruments are called sitomètre (or sitogoniomètre) in French and Sitometer in Swiss German. The name comes from the French expression for elevation angle which is called angle de site. The azimuth angle is called angle de gisement.

French level system called sito-goniomètre

Early system produced by the French companies HUET, LEMAIRE, MORIN and SECRETAN in the 1920-30's.


For techn. details see SECRETAN		 French level system called clisimètre

Early system produced by the French company MORIN in the 1930's



Swiss level system called Sitometer



For details see BÜCHI and  KERN 		German system
(WW1?)



For details see GOERZ.
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ABNEY LEVEL

This system is called Abney level. It was designed by Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney (born 24 July 1843 - died 3 Dec. 1920) and is very popular in England and the U.S.A. Sir Abney was an English astronomer and chemist best known for his pioneering of color photography and color vision. Sir Abney invented this instrument under the employment of the School of Military Engineering in Chatham, England in the 1870's. It is described by W. & L. E. Gurley (*) as an English modification of the Locke hand level, noting that it gives angles of elevation and is also divided for slopes, as 1 to 2, 2 to 1, etc. Since the main tube of this instrument is square, it can be applied to any plane surface. The clinometer scale is graduated to degrees, and read by vernier to 10 minutes.

The original Abney level did not have a compass. It was simply a type of sextant for measuring vertical angles on land, not using the sun – no filters. Until its invention clinometers were either very bulky (sextants were used) or were not very accurate. Abney invented his pocketable level purely to fill a much needed gap in the market. Surveyors welcomed his invention, but it was primarily used by the military for artillery and engineering (creation of roads, bridges etc). However, the addition of a compass was a much later invention and it is possible, though not definite, that F. Barker was the one to make the combination.
* W. & L. E. Gurley, A Manual of the Principal Instruments Used in American Engineering and Surveying, Troy, N. Y., 1893, p. 228.
 (Source: WIKIPEDIA)

Abney level made by F. BARKER & Son
(see catalogue at right)

Multiplying the TAN no. (tangent) of the angle (given in a table) by the distance in metres to the base of the object gives its height.


(Click on images for enlarged views)
All pictures by www.TRADEMARKLONDON.com


Prismatic compass with SINGER's patent type green paper dial with fixed prism and folding sighting vane. 
The compass transit lock engages when the sighting vane is folded down, and has a "brake" button to help settle the card for a reading.
The 5" version has no adjustable telescope (no draw tube).


 Technical Data
- Dimensions: 5 x 2 1/2 in.  (12.5  x 6 cm)
- Compass diameter: 1 1/2 in. (38 mm)
- Compass calibrated in 360 degrees.



BARKER catalogue 1909

DE LISLE'S REFLECTING CLINOMETER

1890 - 1945 ANTIQUE, BRITISH MILITARY ITEM USED DURING THE BOER WAR, THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR

This simple device was invented by General A. de Lisle, (1825-99). The half mirror in the diamond frame reflects the observer's eye when the instrument is suspended from the thumb and held at arm's length. A sighting on a distant object through the clear glass will be on the same level as the observer’s eye and its mirror image. In this model the mirror can be tilted by using the weighted arm running over the scale on the arc as a “handle”. This will give a measure of the inclination of the distant object. A heavy arc is constructed upon the lower part of the instrument. This is jointed upon a vertical axis so that it may be revolved to bring the mass of the arc either forward or backward, to take inclines upwards or downwards, or to rest at an intermediate position to make the instrument flat and portable. The arc has a stiff centre axis with a radial bar, the edge of which forms the index. A sliding weight is placed on the radial bar, which is sufficiently heavy when at its greatest extension to exactly counterbalance the weight of the arc in a horizontal position and to make the mirror quite vertical. In this position it forms a simple Burel level.
A set of graduations are made upon the arc, which are numbered 1 to 50. The radial bar index set to one of these numbers gives the amount of inclination that will result from the coincidence of the reflection of the centre of the pupil of the eye cutting the object to be observed. It is calibrated for gradients from 1 in 50 to 1 in 5. Overall length 160mm / 6 inches ; weight : c. 300 gr. /  10 oz.

An instrument used to determine the angle of elevation or depression. A De Lisle's Pendant Clinometer was used by surveyors and Royal Engineers to set out slopes and gradients in the construction of paths, tracks and roads.

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LEZY

PROFILE - G. LEZY was a French inventor (first name unknown) who signed an improved version of General PEIGNÉ's famous system (no other data momentarily available).
This instrument features different or additional devices like the round bubble level and its separate clinometer integrated in the lid.
The clinometer's sighting system in a groove in the case side opposite to the 15 cm ruler. The slope angle measuring pendulum is locked and can be released by depressing a bar on the lid's outer side. There is no military user instruction glued on the case.
Two holes in a metallic fitting are the locking device (via two sliding pins on either side of the attachment ring).
- Early 20th C. / WW1
- Markings in the centre below the needle: G. LEZY / PARIS - Modèle déposé



(Click on images for enlarged views)
Top: the scale
At right: the unlocking device and the groove
 Technical Data
- Dimensions (closed): 93 x 85 x 30 mm
- Divisions: 360° clockwise
- Clinometer scale ("PENTES"): +/- 80 deg
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LIETZ

PROFILE - A. LIETZ was a former U.S. manufacturer (for more information click HERE).
Product range - among others, they built the famous Forestry Compass which was available in two versions : 360 degrees and four quadrants (compare with Keuffel & Esser).
On this compass, the cardinals West and East appear reversed (their position left and right of North is swapped left to right). This is a typical feature on some U.S. geologist's compass: The needle indicates here the direction that you are facing when your turn on the spot with the compass in your hand (look for "quadrant" in MISCELLANEOUS / Terminology). You will also find more details in this Tutorial.
Other instruments: see CHARVOZ and LUTZ (below).



(Click to enlarge)		 STANDARD POCKET COMPASS
U.S. FOREST SERVICE

Technical Data
- Dimensions: 83 x 75 x 18 mm
- Weight: 190 gr
- Divisions: quadrants
- Material (case and lid): aluminum, black paint
- Bubble level in the lid (possibly missing but not represented in the LIETZ 1959 catalog)

The needle's horizontal position is balanced by means of a small weight wound around the needle's southern end.
The declination adaption range covers plus/minus 32.5 degrees, so that the compass can be used from the farthest point of the East coast to the extreme western end of Alaska.
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LÜTTIG

PROFILE - The name C. LÜTTIG (Berlin) appears on a theodolite made probably at the turn of the 20th C.
No other information momentarily available.



(Click for enlarged view) 		Technical Data
- Dimensions : x x mm
- Weight : gr
- Divisions : 360°
- Clinometer: one part ist attached to the sighting tube, the other under the compass capsule
- Serial no.: 1684
- Inscription engraved on the tube:
F. V. St. 139
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LUTZ

PROFILE - This Japan-made compass is identical to the one displayed under the name CHARVOZ which was also identical to a LIETZ -made compass. The name LUTZ was probably chosen for the resemblance with LIETZ.
No other information momentarily available.



Pictures courtesy alantoda
(Click on images for enlarged views)
Technical Data
- Dimensions: 4 1/2" (118mm) side length
- Dia.: 95 mm
- 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.
- Adaption of magnetic declination by side screw.
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- M -

M1 / M2

According to the U.S. Army Field Manual 21-26 App. G, the M1 compass was a predecessor of the M2 (see Brunton).
The description given in this document reads as follows:
"One of the most important features of the M2 compass is that it is graduated in mils and does not require a conversion from degrees to mils as does the M1 compass."
We couldn't until now find a picture of any compass matching this definition. On many websites, the standard lensatic marching compass (example: see Cammenga) is designated M1 but this is not consistent with the definition above since all models known feature both graduations (degrees and mils). FM 21-26, Ch. 9 describes the lensatic marching compass but this instrument is never designated M1.

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M1918

PROFILE - British design, maybe late 19th c. It appears in F. BARKER's catalogue as early as in 1909 (see in LINKS , the website www.TRADEMARKLONDON.com) together with the 4 in. (10 cm) prismatic compass described in P. Dériaz' manual THE PRISMATIC COMPASS (1917).

The graphic (below, centre) shows the French Model 1918 that could be utilized together with different gun types, among others the French 155mm howitzer type M1918. This drawing is to be found in a Maintenance Manual (TM 9-1595) issued during WWI and reprinted during WWII by the U.S. Secretary of War in 1943.

BARKER catalogue (1909)


Maintenance Manual
(copy available)




 Technical Data
- Diameter: 100 mm (4")
- Height: .. mm
- Weight: ... gr
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Map Pockets

Examples of ancient map pockets for military use or hiking. Some had transparent walls, others pockets for drawing tools (colour pencils, eraser, ruler etc.). Some can be carried with a shoulder strap, others with two short straps for example on a bike's steering handles. Some also had a small integrated compass.


(click on pic. to enlarge)
System called "Swedish" in German (see catalogue below)

 Technical Data
Leather map holder with transparent walls, compass and shoulder strap (France, 1920's)
- Content: map (1/20.000) of area East of Paris, around Drancy, type 1889, dated 1928.
- Dimensions : 230 x 140 mm
- External pocket for a booklet (training data of artillery soldiers in 1929)


Official Wehrmacht pocket (Meldetasche) 




 Technical Data
Leather map holder with pockets for colour pencils, eraser, ruler etc. and straps for horse saddle, bike etc.
- Two compartments inside
- Straps for bike steering handles
- Germany, 1930's and WWII
- Dimensions: 270 x 190 mm

Pic. at r.: Eisenschmitt, Karte und Gelände, Ausg. 1939 with list of pockets and compasses
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Map Reader

Description : This instrument is used to measure distances on maps. It is made of a tiny wheel that can follow the curves of a road. This wheel is connected to a pointer that shows the measured track on a dial. Some compasses are equiped with map readers with several scales - see in particular Breithaupt (model Cokil) and Peigné (metallic version made by Ladois).

The instrument shown at right (built in the 1950's-60's) displays divisions that allow direct reading of distances on maps with the scales 1:20,000, 1:40,000, 1:80,000 and 1:100,000 on one side while the opposite side has divisions for the scales 1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:75,000 and 1:200,000.

(Photo at right: click for enlarged view )


(Click on images for enlarged views)


(Pictures courtesy tyntyla26)
 Old English instrument marked
ROTA METER
Appears in a Barker catalogue but was not built by this manufacturer
Technical Data
- Diameter: 1 inch
- Outer scale: 12" (= 1 foot)
- Inner scale: 25 feet
- Casing: silver, Birmingham 1896

(Click on images for enlarged views)


(Pictures courtesy Sergey Habarolog)
 Russian instrument

Technical Data
- Diameter: approx. 1" 6/32
- Scale 1 (pic at left): centimeter and kilometers
- Scale 2 (pic at right): inches and versts (1 verst = 3500 m or approx. 2 miles)
- Casing: bakelite (1940?)




(Click on each picture above for enlarged views)
Instrument comprising a map reader on one side, a compass on the other and a pencil.



The pouch can be hung onto a pocket. 		Technical Data
- Dials' diameter: 35 mm
- Length: 11.5 mm
- Map reader dial range:
100 mm / 10 km, resp. 3.9 in. (inches to miles) 

MashPriborIntOrg (Машприборинторг in cyrillic letters)

PROFILE - Name of a company in the former Soviet Union located in Moscow (see GK-2).

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MERIDIAN

PROFILE - former Swiss manufacturer (for more information click HERE).
Not to be mistaken for the MERIDIAN called compass model made by the former German company WILKIE and the actual K&R (see also MARCHING compasses).



Model MK-2001

(Click on picture for enlarged view)

Technical Data
- Dimensions (folded): 65 x 50 x 18 mm
- Weight: 80 gr
- Divisions: 400 grades
- Leather case

The compass attached on a tripod (catalogue)
Model MG-3002
 Oulianoff

Click on the picture for an enlarged view together with foldable ruler
Inside the lid, the two lenses of the double optical clinometer and distance measuring device



(Click on the pictures for enlarged views) 		Meridian catalogue picture



An additional item was designed to measure the slope of rock layers (compare with FPM).

 Technical Data
- Dimensions (folded):75 x 55 x 35 mm
- Weight: 340/175 gr
- Compass Divisions: 360° or 400 grades
- Pendulum clinometer:
. upper scale (coarse): +/- 90°
. lower scale (precise): +/-15°
- Double optical slope and distance measuring device (pic: see conv. table):
. left sight: 0 (level) to 90° upwards
. right sight: (same downwards)

(Click on links to see items)
- Conversion table (paper)
- Foldable ruler (three parts)
- Pouch

User instructions available (French and German only)
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Miners' compass

Definition: special compass for survey tasks in mines galleries (s. items built by FPM, MORIN, SECRÉTAN).
(Click on pictures for enlarged views)

DESCRIPTION
Left: description of a miner's compass in an old French encyclopedia for measuring instruments and metallurgical tools (1813).
(Translation - see original text in the French part : poche de mineur)

A miner's compass assembly generally comprises:
1. a compass to measure the galleries' orientation
2. a graduated half-circle with plumbline to measure their slope
3. a chain to measure the distance between the stations
4. several brass screws, to attach the chain
5. a protractor to transfer the measurements on the drawing
6. (optional) an optical sight.

Pictures www.frickeinstruments.de

Click on pictures for enlarged views
 Miners' Compass complete with semi-circle hanging protractor, plumb bob, adjustment keys etc.
Technical Data
- Maker: Noesselt & Staritz, Breslau (Silesia, now Poland), late 19th c.
- Compass card: silver-coated, with 360-degree scale.
- Dimensions: wooden case (c. 30 x 23 cm).
On the back of the case is still the original leather bag.

Detail view of a compass: see SECRÉTAN
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MORIN

Profile - Former French company (for more information, click HERE).
See also the categories Marching compasses, Nautical compasses and Pocket compasses

Morin had been a supplier for the French armies and the industry since the mid 19th c. The catalogue for the year 1930 gives a perfect overview of its product range. The various items are shown together with the catalogue illustration.





Technical Data
- Diameter: 80 mm
- Depth (closed): 27 mm
- Height (alidade upright): 60 mm
- Weight: 300 gr
Technical Data
- Diameter: 80 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 110 gr
Example: go to Collignon-Houlliot Technical Data

Compass equipped with a clinometer: The zero reference is situated on a tangent defined by a retractable lever. The needle can be locked by means of a piston sliding through the loop fitting (free when extended).
The same model exists also bearing the name of the italian manufacturer of optical instruments SALMOIRAGHI.

Technical Data
- Diameter (compass): 90 mm
- Depth (case, closed): 30 mm
- Height: (alidade upright): 75 mm
- Weight: 200 gr
Export Version (cardinal points in English)
Technical Data
- Dimensions: 70 x 70 x 15 mm
- Weight: 50 gr
Trough or Plane Table compass

 Technical Data
(...)
NOTE: this msuseum doesn't possess this item. The picture was sent by a visitor. The Museum has four other exhibits (see RICHER, SECRETAN and two no-name, items, one being part of a military theodolite (see trough compass below).
Square protractor
(See "protractor, square / Romer scale" below)
Miners' compass
Special compass for survey works in mines' galleries (see also description and exhibits made by SECRÉTAN and FPM).
Technical Data
- ...
Prismatic compass designed by Berget
MORIN catalogue no. 9925

The compass unfortunately w/o its prism. Compare with the item made by Houlliot
(Click for enlarged view)

Technical Data
- Dimensions (overall): 110 x 85 mm
- Compass diameter: 40 mm
- Divisions: 400 grades
- Weight: 85 gr
MORIN produced together with SRPI a modern version of Général Peigné's system (see further down) made of aluminum.

(Pictures Jaypee - private collection)
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- P -

PARKES

PROFILE - James Parkes was a British manufacturer of telescopes. He founded his company in 1839.  He was succeeded by his son and the company was renamed James Parkes & Son (1843 – 1862). Both companies traded from 5, St. Mary’s Row, Birmingham.
We presume that there is a connection with a certain Robert Parkes who lived in the late 16th century and was cited by Simon Forman in his book Longitude. Parkes was apparently a manufacturer of telescopes.
Description of the production scope in a catalogue for the year 1848:
"Measuring tapes, land chains, mathematical instruments, miners' & mariners' compasses, watchkeys, seals etc."
Parkes's trademark was a human left eye shown open together with an eyebrow. The "eye" trademark also appeared on both sides of Britain's coat-of-arms in an 1867 catalogue (see image at right - click to enlarge).




Compass open with the vanes erected (compare with the compass made by the  German  FENNEL or the French MORIN, above).		 Technical Data
- Diameter (sighting vanes folded): 60 mm
- Diameter (sighting vanes deployed): 70 mm
- Depth (closed with lid on): 21 mm
- Weight: 120 g

(Pictures courtesy of TRADEMARKLONDON)
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Général PEIGNÉ's system

This compass type was designed by the French officer Paul Peigné (for his résumé, click HERE).
It could well be that in reality, the then captain only modified the system designed by a lady compass maker called Mademoiselle DUPUY by integrating the clinometer into the compass capsule and adding user's instructions glued on the case's upper and lower sides. See also LEZY.

It was built by several companies like MORIN, LADOIS and S-L. A short version of the users' instructions was glued on both sides of the wooden casing (printed by Delagrave et Cie). Late 19th until early 20th century. This compass is equipped with an alidade that could be used both with the compass needle to take azimutal bearings and with the clinometer to measure elevation angles. The magnetic needle oscillations can be slowed by depressing a thin piston gliding through the transit locking screw. The clinometer scale is printed inverted so as to be read in the mirror. It was one of the major official compasses used in the French Army during WWI.
(Fig. at right: French Infantry petty officers manual 1914/15 in which the compass is still designated "du capitaine Peigné")



Compass system by Gen. PEIGNÉ in the MORIN catalogue for 1930
(Click on the picture for the full catalogue text in French)		 360 deg. version signed Colonel Peigné 1897.
The oldest known version states his former grade as Lieutenant-Colonel (from 1883 on).



The mention Général Peigné appears only after he was appointed General in 1898 (source: French mil. archives).		 Military version (6400 mils) with signature
"Gal Peigné", 1916.




A bakelite version was made by S-L in the 1930's.



The user's instructions
Above: short, glued on the compass casing
At right: comprehensive manual (4 p., see SHOP)		 Technical Data
- Dimensions: 92 x 90 x 35 mm
- Diameter of compass rose: 70 mm
- Divisions: 6400 mils, clockwise
- Clinometer: 0-1000 (unit ?) upwards and downwards
- Weight: 200 gr
- Side ruler (casing deployed): 160 mm

 

Map reader for five scales
(1:50.000, 1:80.000, 1:100.000, 1:200.000 and 1:320.000) and modern stylized signature		 Metallic cylindrical version called Saint-Maixent* model. It was also  manufactured by LADOIS.
* Famous military school

Technical Data
- Diameter: 83 mm
- Depth: 26 mm
- Divisions: 6400 mils, clockwise
- Clinometer: degrees, no separate scale
- Weight: 320 gr
- Ruler flap: 70 mm
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PESSLER & SOHN

PROFILE - Former German manufacturer located in Freiberg / Saxony. Created probably at the very beginning of the 20th C. Astronomical and Survey instruments.
The company was taken over by the communist government in 1951 and integrated into the group FPM.
Compare with the Voigtländer compass.


PHYSICA

PROFILE - Former Finnish manufacturer located in Helsinki. It was probably short-lived. The only instruments known up-to-now are this compass apparently used by the national Forestry department (Metsähallitus) and a wrist compass displayed in the SUUNTO entry which were both built in the 1930's.
Picture at right: the maker's label on the compass below
The holes in the vane were a means to assess elevation angles (slopes).

Top view:
Index ring with vernier 
Vane with 5 sighting holes		 Technical Data
- Dimensions: Height 2" / 50mm
- Compass diameter: 5 3/4" / 150mm
- Vane height: 2" / 50mm
- Distance between holes: 1/2"  / 12 mm
- Weight : 4 lbs / 2 kgs.
- Magn. needle: lozenge shaped, one long white line on the Northern branch, liquid dampened.

Pictures by courtesy of G. Plumb - Above: the carrying leather case
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PLANE TABLE

The tool called plane table (plain table prior to 1830) is a device used in surveying and related disciplines to provide a solid and level surface on which to make field drawings, charts and maps. The early use of the name plain table reflected its simplicity and plainness rather than its flatness (Definition by WIKIPEDIA).

Its consists of a board usually attached to a tripod and articulated by means of a knee joint so that it can always be levelled.
The picture at right shows a simple product out of MORIN's catalogue c.1930. On it are placed a Peigné compass and an alidade.

We display below a square one with integrated compass and double level. A sighting system could be attached by screws.

Technical Data
- Dimensions : 300 x 300 mm
- Compass diameter: 80 mm
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Small Portable Devices

There existed also portable plane tables with all elements needed to carry out topographical works.
Our first example is the one designed by the French officer Capitaine Henri HUEL.





The wooden case was probably covered with leather or fabric so as to hold the pens in place. The lid is hollow and contains a protractor.		 Technical Data
- Dimensions (open) : 260 x 250 mm
- Compass diameter: 60 mm
- Divisions : four 100 grades quadrants

Instructions for use: This device also allowed for working on horse back (see also DELCROIX' system).



(Click on the picture for full text view)
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Mark IV Plane Table

This compass is set in a wooden frame the sides of which were sawn off. Only part of words are still visible at left: (LI)NE OF and at right: DIR(ECTION). The only evidence of its British origin is the Mk.IV. (Mark IV) indication engraved on the rev erse side preceded by the Army's symbol, the broad arrow also called crow foot.
The following information was sent by a visitor:
This compass is a plane table compass which would have been set in a military map sketching board commonly used in the late C19th and up to WW1. The board had a strap underneath so it could be fixed to the forearm.

View of a complete item

Picture courtesy Nick Godridge

Click on picture for detailed view

Pictures Mary Jones		 Technical Data

- Dimensions: 2 x 2" (50 x 50mm)
- Depth: 5/8" (15 mm)
s
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CHAIX plane table
The same principle was used on the French Paris-based company CHAIX (now TOPOCHAIX).



(Click on the picture for an enlarged view)		 Short description:
the device (A) comprises:
1° a sliding table (B) with a rotating protractor (C)
2° two rolls (D) on which a stripe of transparent paper (F) is wrapped around and on which the drawings are made.

(Copies can be ordered)
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Tavoletta di Monticolo

Another system was developed in Italy probably in the late 19th c. by A. Monticolo, who was an engineer with the company 'Officine Galileo'. The device was called 'Tavoletta di Campagna' (di Monticolo) and produced from 1908 until the second half of the 20th c.

For a comprehensive description (in Italian language) refer to the following websites:
- Nottolini
- Arxiv-Papers (page 72)




Technical Data
- Dimensions : 130 x 180 mm
- Compass/clinometer diameter : 70 mm
- Compass and clinometer : two windows on the round dial
- Rangemeter (with prism)
- Reduction tables (attached on rear face)
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Plane Table Compass

(see Trough Compass)

Protractor, square / Romer Scale*

* see Wikipedia
DESCRIPTION - A square protractor is an instrument utilized to measure the geographical position of any point on a map with grid reference and describe it for a user of the same map. It is graduated with one or several scales in a vertical and an horizontal direction.
Old models generally consisted of a square frame with several scales. The distance between the point and the grid lines is measured simultaneously with a horizontal and a vertical branch.
The German company BUSCH printed the shortened users' instructions of several instruments (like their famous marching compass) on a cardboard flyer, on which the square protractor had to be cut-out. The German Army uses its own system (see picture at left)
Examples:
- Ancient ones: see MORIN above (WW1).
- Pöferlein (marching compasses)
- WW2: table below and also Bézard compass (Technical Documentation/Training)
- Modern items: see Google result
Apparently, the U.S. Army used a system based on a gross assessment: Read UP-RIGHT, "4/10 the distance between 11 and 12 is read 114" (see Lensatic / Training).
Winterer's system
(Austrian and Italian Army until WWII).



NOTE: The values read right of the meridian were called Rechtswert and the values read above the latitude line were called Hochwert. You had to rotate this item by 90 deg. to read either the scale 1/75,000 or the 3 scales 1/25, 1/50 and 1/100 thousand (click HERE for the Italian version with tactical symbols).
 BÉZARD Version (s. Bézard / Tech. Doc.)




 Square protractor for 3 scales (WWII?)



Technical Data
- Dimensions: 86 x 86 mm
- Material: Aluminium
- Weight: 2 gr

(Click for enlarged view)


BUSCH cardboard flyer (see "Wehrsport"): how to use the sq. protractor and the measuring device called Messwinkel.
(facsimile can be ordered).

The Gunner's manual (1940) :
How to use the sq. protractor (Planzeiger)

BUSCH flyer: The sq. protractor (top right) drawn inside the Messwinkel to be cut out.

(Click for enlarged views)
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- R -

Range finder

PROFILE - Range finder used in the former Soviet Union's Red Army.





(Picture courtesy Boridin)

Technical Data
See the UOMZ instrument re-used as a wrist compass.
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RICHER, L'HERMITE, LEJARD et Cie

PROFILE - L'HERMITE & LEJARD, located 13, rue de la Cerisaie (near La Bastille), apprentices to and successors of RICHER, GUYARD & CANARY (formerly RICHER, GUYARD, CANARY & Cie).
Excerpt of a catalogue (c. 1905):
"The company was created in 1780 by RICHER and his son Emile Richer was his successor.
In 1870, Emile Richer associated two apprentices of his his father, Guyard and Canary who became his successor. In 1890, they followed the example of their former head and associated two of their apprentices L'Hermite and Lejard who are currently the company's owner."
(Source: catalogue - sent by Antonin L'Hermite's grand-grand-daughter)
See also TROUGH COMPASS.

Trough compass for plane table

 (See definition under MISCELLANEOUS / Glossary and Definitions)

Technical Data
Wooden casing, ivory scales
- Dimensions: 120 x 44 x 15 mm
- Weight: 40 gr

RICHTBUSSOLE

In Austria, the word Bussole was utilized instead of the normal German word Kompass. Examples: see. Bézard and Winterer. Artillery compasses used to orientate (verb is 'richten') a gun were called consequently 'Richtbussolen'. Examples: GANSER and GOERZ.
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RICHTER, O.

PROFILE - O. Richter, located in Petrograd (Saint-Petersbourg, Russia)
(No information available - Picture sent by a collector)

ROSPINI (Brüder)

PROFILE - Rospini was the name of two brothers (Brüder in German). They were instruments makers in Graz, Austria, written Gratz until the early 20th century. Instruments signed ROSPINI and dated between 1840 and 1860 are known, made either by Andreas or by "C. Jos." (Carl Joseph?).
This compass features a clinometer (see also FENNEL and MORIN) and an additional 24-hours-scale. Such instruments were used to compensate for variations of magnetic North and true North in areas of big magnetic disturbance (e.g. iron ore in the ground) by using the known position of the sun at a given time, using sun tables. Effectively, most ships had a variation of this with the pelorus, which had a vertical gnomon in the centre and North could be ascertained by the shadow and the use of sun tables from an almanac.



Photo David Geras
 Technical Data
- Clinometer with swivel-out lever
- Divisions: 360 deg. and 24 hours, counter-clockwise (see pic. below and menu point Miscellaneous / Divisions / Hours)
- Diameter: 67 mm / Depth: 10 mm


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ROSSIGNOL

PROFILE - Camille Rossignol was a French officer and weaponsmith (for his résumé, click HERE).

He invented a compass system and filed for a patent (no. 167.980, 14.10.1885, Boussole militaire devant servir à diriger les troupes et au levé des plans - Military compass for leading troops and survey tasks). Its unusual design features a boom with the rear part of the sight and two rulers. The sight's rear part is a notch in the fitting of the marching course setting screw. The right-hand side ruler is a distance measuring scale (1:80.000). The left side features a ruler in millimeter. The zero reference of both rulers is located in the compass' center, so that the divisions read 40 to 100 mm and respectively 3 to 8 km. The compass capsule can rotate. It has a transparent bottom made of horn and a cross, one arm of which being painted black. For taking a bearing, one has to observe in the mirror the magnetic needle and turn the capsule until the black cross arm lies under the North pointer. The compass was delivered with a leather pouch and a wooden box.
Pict. at right:
C. ROSSIGNOL
Chef-Armurier (Chief weaponsmith)
Bté SGDG (Patented)


Top: leather pouch, ruler left side

Bottom: wooden case



On some items, the surface has been intentionally scratched so that the chromated protection doesn't betray the user's position through light reflexion.		 (Click on pictures for detailed view)

The Magnetic needle and the black cross arm. On the capsule's base plate are divisions engraved which make it possible to take the magnetic declination into account.



Serial no. on the rear sight

 Divisions:



The mirror automatically stops at an angle of 45° by means of a spring and a triangular cam.

The distance measuring scale 1:80.000



 Technical Data
- Dimensions:
140 x 55 x 18 mm
- Weight: 115 gr
Materials
- Compass case: steel
- Ground plate: horn, transparent
- Divisions: 360° clockwise
- Serial No. : 168
- Copies of patent, user's instructions and manual (fac simile) can be ordered as well as of the following booklet:



(Click on the picture to see a drawing of the compass)

ROST, R. & A.

PROFILE - R. & A. was an Austrian manufacturer located in Vienna (Wien)


Picture courtesy cashinthetaesch2009

Divisions: 360 degrees and 24 hours
(see Rospini above)
(Click on the pictures for enlarged views)
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CONT'D