THE BÉZARD COMPASS

NOTE: the following article deals with the original Bézard compasses and their imitations but detailed information is still missing. Thank you for any detail concerning the production years of the various models. The Online Compass Museum would also be very grateful for any documentation (original or copy) concerning this instrument's history and technology.
(for our email address: see CONTACT)

CONTENT


THE BÉZARD COMPASS – ALMOST A CENTURY OF HISTORY

THE INVENTOR: JOHANN Ritter von BÉZARD

This compass was invented and patented by Johann Ritter von Bézard, an officer (of Polish origin) serving in the Imperial Austrian Army. Over time he was promoted from Captain to Major and finally to Colonel.

A curriculum vitae is in preparation. A version (in Polish language) can be found on the "Fundacja Tadeusz Kosciuszki" foundation website of the History Museum in Kielce, Poland, (see LINKS)..
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THE PATENTS

NOTE: The instrument described in the original patent below was built among other by the French nautical clock maker J. Auricoste.
The system was patented in several countries at about the same time.
In the German Empire (photo left), it was on November 25, 1902 by the then Captain Johann Ritter von Bézard (Ritter meaning Knight, his nobility title) domiciliated in Neusohl, Hungary.
The Museum has patent copies from the following countries:
Austro-Hungarian Empire, German Empire, Switzerland, France, Great-Britain and Canada.
The text of a box cover also states Russia, Japan and USA but we have so far no copy.
Photo right: engraved below the serial no. are the patent no. and the abbreviation D.R.P. (Deutsches Reichs-Patent).

Patent for the Austro-Hungarian Empire
No. 13413 (Feb. 15, 1903)




Patent for Switzerland
No. 27,752 (Nov. 13, 1902)
 Patent for France
No. 326.536 (Nov. 12, 1902)



(exerpt, 1st and 3rd p.)		 Patent for Great-Britain
No. 24,874 (Sept. 17, 1903)
 Patent for Canada
No. 90,148 (1904)
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DESCRIPTION

This compass was officially designated on the boxes (see below) "Diopter-Orientierungsbussole" i.e. magnetic compass with alidade, but it became very famous under the name "Bézard-Kompass" or the Bézard Compass. It was immediately adopted by the Austrian Imperial Army and then later in Germany as a result of intense lobbying.
It can be seen in the hands of the Austro-Hungarian explorer, Count László Ede Almásy in photographs dating to the early 1930’s. Almásy had explored the Libyan Sahara where he discovered the famous cave paintings. His life was covered in the Anthony Minghella film "The English Patient". (Click on the photo to enlarge)
This scene, that only lasts a few seconds, was probably only for publicity. A sighting operation takes much longer, and in such a short time frame the needle would not be able to settle !

NOTA : This photographic still from the film "The Sahara – a Lost Paradise" has been kindly provided by the Science Vision © production company www.sciencevision.at who also pointed out that it is not an original shot, but a modern production.

THE VARIOUS MODELS

The 1902 patent describes a wooden casing (see the marching compass made by J. Auricoste). These are extremely rare. The oldest models usually found are made of a bakelite type case called Hartgummi (hard rubber) in the German documentation. Later produced models were made of aluminium. The basic model was called the Armeemodell 1910 II, also known as the Spiegelmodell 1906 (1906 mirror version).

A civil version (card calibrated in 360 degrees) and a military version (6400 MILS) were produced.
This graduation could be ordered in clockwise or anti-clockwise versions. The small model was available with (I S) or without (I) the mirror and only calibrated in 360 degrees.

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THE LOGOS

The German version of the Bézard compass was manufactured by the barometer manufacturer Georg LUFFT located in Stuttgart. Three different logos were used. The most common ones are the letters G & L together with a drawing compass or the Name LUFFT in gothic fonts. A very seldom used one, and probably the oldest of all, features a flat cylindric shape with an axis and the name LUFFT (seen on older barometers and Bézard compasses).



The oldest logo
(see example further below, Czechoslovakia)
The logo currently used by this company depicts its name written in gothic letters.
The inscription on the compass rose also changed during the course of manufacture: Thus one sees PATENT-BÉZARD and ORIGINAL-BÉZARD in several languages (see below). The inscription BÉZARD-KOMPASS also appeared on the obverse of the casing.

(Click on picture for enlarged view)
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ARROWS AND NEEDLES


The appearance of the dial and the needle has had two distinctly different forms.
Left: the arrow-shaped pointer was glued onto a magnetic needle with wax.
The letter N is partly covered by a radium paint line.
Right: The dial had a cut-out corresponding exactly to the shape of the arrow. There were also two lines of radium paint on both sides of the opening (right). This device allowed for a good visibility when superimposing them using the mirror even in relative darkness.
On The military model (Armeemodell) 1910 II, the declination was set and could not be adapted (9 deg. West). This value corresponded to the center of Germany at the turn of the century.
It became adjustable on later models (see below).

On the large Armeemodell II, the course index was a red dash painted on a celluloid tab inserted between the mirror hinge and the bakelite case.
This device was later replaced with a metal tongue placed vertically in a slot in the hinge and across the mirror’s rotational axis.		 The dial of a Bézard Model I (French export version): The index is a simple metal pointer.


On later versions the arrow-shaped paper pointer was replaced with a more conventional system. The South mark on the celluloid disk comprised a luminous circle within which the observer had to place the South end of the needle, itself ending with a small luminous disc.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

The Bézard compass was an entirely new concept and brought numerous innovations. This explains why it was often copied (see the paragraph on imitations at the end of the article).

In comparison to other models used at the time the new features were as follows:
- The lid had two slots set in its sides to allow precision sighting of a target.
- The compass dial could be read simultaneously in a hinged mirror.
The dial featured originally a red label aligned East-West. It comprised a logo containing the words PATENT BEZARD and the initials of the cardinal points at the ends (W and O for WEST and OST in German, photo left).
This label was an essential element when using the compass.
Nevertheless its handling seemed as simple as indicated in the labels in the boxes (see below).
 Used with a map one kept the label parallel with the place names indicated on the map, which are always written on an East-West axis, and turned the casing to place the base of the lid over the axis of the route to be followed to align a target from one’s present position.

On the later versions the text was modified to ORIGINAL-BEZARD written in black on a white (luminous) background and also, later on, without the luminous background. In the final version the Bezard was liquid damped, and the label carried the wording FLUID BEZARD in English between two white lines.
Sketch: The Bezard compass set on a map.


 While walking, you only had to hold the compass in such a way that the North point of the needle aligned with the magnetic North marker. The direction of travel was indicated by the luminous arrow fixed in the lid and by the word DIREKTION (or RICHTUNG) crossed with an arrow, engraved on the exterior facing of the lid.
To detect the position of a target one had to hold the compass to the eye and view the target through the slots in the lid. The mirror, inclined at around 45 degrees, reflected an image of the card and the needle. It was then necessary to turn the capsule until the arrow-shaped needle and the corresponding cut-out (or the South marker of the needle in the circle on the card) were perfectly superimposed.
Taking a bearing. The compass could be fixed to a staff or a stick to aid taking a special bearing.
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LID

Corroded aluminium lid marked DIREKTION

 Stainless steel lid marked RICHTUNG

 One of the series bore the word RICHTUNG instead of DIREKTION. The typography is interesting: the horizontal bars of the H and the T are inclined and aligned like runes carved in soft wood.

(Note: the apparent dots each side of the word RICHTUNG are actually fixing screws for the card arrow).

The first models were equipped with an aluminium lid that quickly oxidised (photo left). It was replaced with a stainless steel lid. From the 1950’s (exact date ?), it was painted military green for the German and French armies and for the German Border Police (BGS).
At the base of the lid there is a 50mm slide on the large model II. After WWII, a 40mm ruler was also engraved on the small models' lid. The exterior of the lid bears the word DIREKTION (or DIRECTION but also RICHTUNG) across an arrow indicating the direction of travel. On the inside of the lid is a luminous arrow in card that is fixed with two screws.

The slots on the small Model I S manufactured after the Second World War terminated at the base like a gun sight. (Photo left: Model I S, c. 1960)

Model II also has two clips used to fix a 10cm graduated slide.
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THE 10 cm GRADUATED SLIDE

Sightings in the dark were easy thanks to a 10cm graduated slide bearing two lines of Radium paint that was mounted in the support at the base of the lid. After World War II, the slides no longer had Radium paint. The shape of the supports changed over time: at first they were flat on the first models with a Bakelite casing, they were followed by two levels and with larger screws on the aluminium casing.
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MIRRORS

There have been three different versions.
On the large Model II it was soldered to one half of a hinge, the other half being screwed to the Bakelite casing (picture left). On later models they comprised part of the hinge (see model BUK, picture right). Its was not perfectly round like the small model but elliptical with a short nose to erect it more easily with a finger nail.
On the small model I S (center - the letter S is the initial for the German word Spiegel, mirror), its hinge was not in the middle but close to the lid. It had a small triangular cut-out for the course index.
The latest model (BUK FLUID, at right) also featured an additional small cut-out (like a moon quarter) on the fringe.

Large model II

 Small model I S

 BUK FLUID
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GRADUATION IN MILS

(With regard to the use of MILS, see the chapter “MISCELLANEOUS”, “Divisions”).

In the first manual by Major Gallinger (1929, p. 8, Fig. 5, see chapter Technical Publications) it states that the MILS graduation had the 0/6400 marker at the South and the 3200 mark at the North in order to "conform with devices used by artillery and heavy infantry weaponry".


 In order to meet the needs of all clients, a replacement solution was offered: An additional ring-shaped disk made of aluminium with MILS divisions could be inserted between the crystal and the original rose with degrees divisions, thus covering only the degrees scale but not the cardinal points. The crystal was easy to remove so that the MILS ring could be placed either with the zero mark to North or South. In the same time, the declination could be adapted, since it had diminished by approximately 2 degrees since the development of the system.

The marching course index was at that time a red line on a tiny celluloid tab placed between the mirror's hinge and the case (pic. left, bottom).		 Four years later, in its second manual, Gallinger (1933, p. 8, Fig. 3) stated by way of addended (red label) that the graduation was also available with the zero mark to North, due to numerous requests...
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ADJUSTMENT OF MAGNETIC DECLINATION

The declination could be adjusted for local requirements. Under the capsule glass two overlapping celluloid disks could be moved in relation to each other. One bore the graduations and the other (situated underneath the first) the luminous marks for the cardinal points, i.e. a line for magnetic North and a circle for South. One placed the line opposite the local value for magnetic North. However, this procedure was rather difficult: One had to remove and then replace three tiny screws and a 1cm long tiny flexible pin acting as a spring (not shown on the picture).

Right: One of the three screw: 		Bézard Compass dismantled: in the lower section, the two celluloid discs. On the BUK III model realized from the 1930’s correction for magnetic declination was easier and did not require the dismantling of the compass: a small pin attached to a cord allowed the locking of the lower disc by means of a hole situated on the mirror hinge and then it was only necessary to turn the capsule in order to set the rose to the correct value.

Simplified adjustment for magnetic declination on compass BUK III
Jakubowski's patent
A system for locking the adaption of the magnetic declination was developed in 1933 by Olgierd Jakubowski (Warsaw, patent no. 20963*). A disk with a sliding ruler at the capsule's base could be rotated by the declination's angular figure and locked with three screws. The sliding ruler would be then used like the East-West-line of the original Bézard compass. This ruler also pushed the needle upwards when closing (transit lock).
* Translation in German available 		Compare with the Mod. 1922 made by DOIGNON
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DESIGN OF THE ATTACHMENT RING / LOOP

The early models had a round or oval loop fixed to a stem as on pocket watches. After World War II, this was replaced by a riveted loop, less aesthetic, but cheaper and more resistant. Many lids still had the hole for the loop fitting.  
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THE BUK COMPASS (BÉZARD UNIVERSALKOMPASS) - Versions II and III

The most evolved model, aimed at ambitious hikers and soldiers, was the Bézard-Universalkompass (BUK). The sighting slits had two transversal wires at mid-height thus forming two reticules. Using these, with the spirit level and the pendular clinometer incorporated in the lid, one could take fairly accurate bearings in three dimensions and even approximately aim mortar artillery.

The BUK is based on the system which Erich Wolf patented in September 1917 (patent no. 80134) for an artillery compass.

 

The BUK II and its folding MILS/cm slide

 The conversion table on the back of the casing and the reticule in the lid slot.

 

Aiming a machine gun using the Bézard compass

(Click on image to see detail)

The folding MILS/cm slide



The BUK was supplied with an accessory allowing rapid estimation of target distance, a slide graduated in MILS and centimeters. It comprised two articulated branches each of 80 mm.

The divisions corresponded with centimetres but they were graduated in MILS for the first 100mm, the remainder was graduated in mm. This gave:
0-20-40-...-200-11-12...		 The folding slide was attached to the compass by a thin cord and had to be kept at approximately 50 cm from the eye. The procedure (for a right-handed person) was as follows: hold the slide still in the right hand with the end bearing the divisions to the left. Place the zero aligned with the left side of the observed object and read the corresponding value on the right side with the thumb nail (see sketch top right). A prior condition for all measurements was that one of the parameters must be known or easily estimated: if the observer wishes to know the distance to the target he has to estimate its size (house, vehicle, etc.) for example depending on the average size of a person. If, for a house approximately 20 metres wide, you measure 20 units, then it is at 1km distance given that 1 unit equals 1m as seen 1km away.
Same method applies for vertical measurements (hold the ruler vertical) (bottom illustration).		 Illustrations taken from the Manual by R. GALLINGER "Der Bézard-Kompass" (1933):
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THE BEZARD LIQUID DAMPED MODEL (FLUID BÉZARD)

The last model marketed (until 1996) by LUFFT was a liquid damped version known as the FLUID BÉZARD. Those two words replaced the classical ORIGINAL BÉZARD crystal marking which had also been used in a first development. This version featured a (for Bézard absolutely unusual) red-and-white needle like the WILKIE compasses and this may have been the result of some kind of co-operation because WILKIE mastered the liquid damping technology very early after WWII. In the military version, the words FLUID BÉZARD were placed between two white lines representing the WEST-EAST axis. It existed in a civil version, a military one and even as a wrist-top compass with the abbreviation 'Bw' for Bundeswehr, i.e. West German Army. In addition to the circle at the needle's South end, the crystal's North mark featured two converging lines in which the needle's arrow head was to be set.



View from below		 The first version of the liquid damped Bézard's with the classical stripe (ORIGINAL BÉZARD in black letters on white ground) and a new red-and-white WILKIE-type needle

(Pictures sent by a priv. collector)

Simple civil version
The metallic case and lid were coated with verdigris enamel

In the military version (BUK), the words FLUID BEZARD and the lines were white.

Wrist-top Fluid-Bézard model "Bw"
(Bundeswehr / Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany)

(Photo: courtesy Ted Brink
see LINKS, Military compasses)
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ILLUSTRATED BOXES

The two models (Armeemodell 1910 I and II) were supplied in cardboard boxes on which the printed illustrations formed the instructions. A photograph taken in front of a mirror showed the correct way to hold the compass. Different illustrations for different models showed the way to use the instrument, those for Model I being slightly simpler than those for Model II. Here are a few examples.
The small model (Armeemodell 1910 I)
Cover picture

 Inside the lid and the bottom of the box

 How to bypass a lake
with only three course resettings


Photo at right: the self luminescent radium paint on the arrows inside the lid and on the compass rose
The large model (Armeemodell 1910 II)
Cover picture
 The photo inside the lid shows how to hold the compass.


(The bottom of the box shows the same illustration as the box for the small model I)
Illustration: comparison of a set journey carried out by a user after only 20 minutes instruction
(point 3)
(Von einem in 20 Minuten hiezu ausgebildeten Handlanger aufgenommen)
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LEATHER POUCHES

The oldest:
Black, ribbed, edge-to-edge stitching

 The finest:
Brown, smooth leather, corner stitching
The last version:
Brown lacquer
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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

- Manuals for familiarisation and for professionals

The two most important publications are the manuals edited by the Austrian Major Rudolf Gallinger who sold compasses, accessories and technical documentation in Graz (Austria).

The Bézard compass
use in orienteering and in combat, 152 pages, published by the author, 1929		 The BÉZARD Compass
40 examples of orientation for hikers and skiers, 41 pages, published by the author, 1933

- User instructions supplied with the compass

As well as the sketches on the boxes, detailed user instructions accompanied the compass. Several types existed over the years. Here is a small selection (non-exhaustive):

  • - "Nachts leuchtende Orientierungs-Bussole. Patent Major v. Bézard", 16 p., price in Crowns (Austrian), Marks (German) and Swiss Francs, printed in Latin letters with no indication of the author (probably the 1930’s)
  • - "Patentierte Orientierungs-Bussole nach Oberst von Bézard", author: Dipl.-Ing. Hans EBER, 19 p. printed in Gothic script, printed by the university's press, editor Dr. C. Wolf & Sohn, Munich Jungfernturmstr. 2, (before 1945?)
  • - "BÉZARD Boussole, Orientierungs-Boussole Patent Bézard", no indication of author, printed in Latin letters with red motifs on the cover page, 11 p. (civilian version for Austria?)
  • - "Original-Bézard-Kompass" printed by G. Lufft Metallbarometerfabrik GmbH, 12 p., 1950's(?), for models I S and II.
  • - "Universal-Bezard-Kompass", printed (G. Lufft Metallbarometerfabrik GmbH), 8 p., 1950's (?), only for BUK model.
  • - Essay: "Orientierungsbussole Bézard" by Major A. Staubwasser, published in "Kriegstechnische Zeitung" (Armed Forces News), 1913, journal no. 10, printed separately by Mittler und Sohn, Berlin W, Kochstr. 48 (The Online Compass Museum unfortunately is not in possession of a copy).
  • - Essay: plea for the adoption of this compass by the German army, appeared in a military journal : "Wegerkundung" (author’s initials: B. H. R.)
For export to French speaking countries, a (very badly translated) notice was included with models exported prior to the Second World War. The notice with the French army compasses used after WW II was much better.
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CLIENTS

There is no evidence that the Bézard compass was ever issued to the German Wehrmacht troops during WWII, but several European armies adopted it . before and after WWII (see VARIANTS further down).
The BUK was, for a long time, the instrument recommended by the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV).

In West Germany, the lid bore the wording BUND (Federation) in the BUNDESWEHR (German Federal Republican Army) and BGS in the border surveillance units (BUNDESGRENZSCHUTZ) now renamed the Federal Police (Bundespolizei).

 The graduations of the BGS compass: 6400 mils.

The Online Compass Museum is seeking an original Bundeswehr compass. We have asked the Ebay seller to authorise us to use this photo.
FRANCE (Armée Française, AF / French Army)

 The AF Bézard compass was issued with 360 degrees and 6400 mils divisions. Equipment for the French troops in Indo China and Algeria (1946-1954 and 1957–1962 conflicts)

COMMENT : It would be interesting to know if France sourced these compasses from LUFFT under extremely advantageous commercial conditions after the Second World War (as a paiment for destructions during the War ?). That would have been the final blow to the compass industry in France. On the other side, a comparison of the 1922 model with the Bézard shows that technologically it was obviously no match.
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The lid and/or the dial on the export versions were adapted for each destination country:

- Romania: DIRECŢIA
(dial: Original Bézard & 6400 mils)
.		 - Netherlands (old): RICHTING



Foto: Ted Brink - see LINKS, MILITARY COMPASSES.		 - Netherlands (modern):
inscription on the west-east strap

Poland: The word ORIGINAL was written in Polish language: ORYGINALNY

 Yugoslavia (Serbocroatian):

 Czechoslovakia: Version with several logos:
Picture at left : Czechoslovakia's coat-of-arms (heraldic lion in a square standing on one corner) between military units' numbers (P.18.7 ... 23)
Picture at right: LUFFT's logo above a flat cylindric compass card

  

Older French version: BREVET BÉZARD
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IMITATIONS

In some countries where the German company LUFFT didn't export the instruments, major manufacturers made them using their names and logos (as licensees?) like Cornelius Knudsen in Denmark or GAMMA in Hungary. Other items are not absolutely identical and we think that they are imitations like the Czech "ŠP" or the Hungarian MOM/41, the East-German FPM and the Romanian I.O.R.

DENMARK
Manufacturer: Cornelius Knudsen - Kiøbenhavn (Copenhagen)
Famous Danish marine optician.
Compare with the Dutch item (bottom)

 DESCRIPTION - Dimensions: same as small model I (no mirror). Graduations: 6400 mils, counterclockwise. Full figures are written with 4 digits (1000, 2000 etc.). Cardinal points in German. No. 1323. No ruler at the lid's basis. Other markings: a royal crown above the initials HV (Army Administration in Danish ?). The word RETNING (direction) is written with the same fonts than on the original German Bézard compasses.
The manufacturer's name indicated on the case underside encompasses a coat-of-arms topped by a crown and displaying a pair of drawing compasses and a drawing square.
The label on the West-East axis reads: FELTK. / M. 1928 (field compass / Model 1928).

 
GERMANY (East, former GDR)
Manufacturer: FPM (Freiberger Präzisionsmechanik)

(Read more details in the category Marching compasses)


FRANCE
Manufacturer: J. Auricoste

(Read more details in the category Marching compasses)
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CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Manufacturer: "ŠP"
 Technical Data
- Graduation : 360 degrees, clockwise
- Ruler: 50 mm
- Weight: 70 g
The mirror possesses a blade spring mechanism that allows it to be locked at 45 degrees.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
(no maker's name)
Compass equipped with a mirror that could be pivoted over 180 degrees:


(Click on the picture for viewing a movie showing the mirror's rotation)		 (Click on the picture for an enlarged view)

 		The outside of the lid bears declination values for cities to the East and to the West, from the German border (Cheb / Eger) to the Ukrainian border (JASINA) passing through Prague (PRAHA) valid for the year 1938.
The ruler allowed the direct reading of distances on military maps to 1:75 000 - one division measures 1,33 mm equivalent to 100 metres on the ground.
The lid is also equipped with a metal support undoubtedly for use on field guns.

Technical Data
- Divisions : 6400 mils
- Diameter: 45 mm
- Weight: 145 g
- Dial (picture: click on link): 6400 mils., clockwise
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ROMANIA
Manufacturer: I.O.R.
Read in the category Marching Compasses details concerning this company.
NETHERLANDS
Manufacturer: unknown

The case ist almost identical with the Danish version above.
LUFFT probably exported unsigned instruments.
Picture by courtesy of Snyder's Treasures
HUNGARY
(IRÁNY = DIRECTION)

The older version that we know of was built by GAMMA. It was identical with the small Bézard without mirror. A larger military version (at right) was apparently built later called MOM (click on the links to read the full entry) also called Plant No. 41 for reasons of secrecy.
 Pictures (left and center): MOM / 41 - (right): GAMMA
   
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