NAUTICAL COMPASSES

A
AIRGUIDE
ASKANIA 		B
BARKER
B.E.N.
BIANCHETTI
 C
CARAC
CASELLA
CLARKE, Clement
 D
DUCHEMIN
DORBIGO 		E
F

 G H
HOULLIOT 		I J
K
KADLEC
 L
LUDOLPH
 M
McGREGOR
MORIN		 N
NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA		 O
P
Pelorus
PLASTIMO
PLATH		 Q R S
SAURA
SESTREL
SUUNTO		 T
U V
VION		 W
WILKIE		 X - Y Z
............

- A -

AIRGUIDE

PROFILE - former U.S. manufacturer (more information HERE).



(Click on the picture
for an enlarged view)

Pictures J. Houcke
 No. 92 Course Monitor (1958) - Technical Data
- Dimensions (height x diam. basis) : 5 x 4-1/2" (13  x 11 cm)
- Weight : c. 1  pound (500 gr)
- Serial no. of parts: P-4549 and P-4551
- Divisions: no divisions and cardinals but only the six letters (every 60 deg.) ABCXYZ. The Y points North.
The pointer's position can be adusted within +/-30°. The abbreviated axiis are engraved on the base rim: NS and EW for North-South and East-West in a 90 deg. angle. (Copies of description and advertisement available on request).
The normal compass was called NAUTILUS (no. 90).

NOTE: This item was meant to be used in addition to the normal compass. As soon as the boat was on course, the index pointer was set on the nearest letter representing thus a target easy to follow.
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ASKANIA

PROFILE - German manufacturer (more information HERE).
See also Wrist and Marching compasses



(Click on the pictures
for enlarged views)

Pictures Holger "beutelbuch*de"

PELORUS

Technical Data
- Dimensions (L x H): ca. 20 x 20
- Durchmesser Peilscheibe: 15 cm
- Gewicht: ?
- Manufacturer: Askania VEB (East -Germany) between 1948-1954
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- B -

BARKER (Francis BARKER & Son)

PROFILE - British Company
(more information HERE)



Catalogue for the year 1930

All photos courtesy Trade Mark London

Comment: This compass is a very rare item. It was made by Francis Barker during his apprenticeship when he was 15. His signature on the card underside and even his fingerprints on the balancing wax can be seen. Read the full story in TRADE MARK LONDON (see Links) 
Liquid and dry-card steering boat compasses in slide lid oak box - 1st half of 19th c.
Technical Data
- Bowl and rings: brass
- Point: steel or iridium
- Cap: sapphire or agate
- Diameter (card): 3 to 8 in.
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B.E.N.

PROFILE - French company, Division of AMSYS



 Technical Data
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BIANCHETTI

PROFILE - Former French company created in 1826 and located in Marseille also known as Ateliers Julien. Partly taken over by BEN in 1962.



Picture Jaypee

Technical Data
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- C -

CASELLA

PROFILE - British manufacturer (more information HERE)



Picture Michael Curtis
(Click for full screen view - attention: long download time due to large size picture)
 Casella Catalogue (c. 1876)

Casella's catalogue showing two of the SHIPS' COMPASSES pages.
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CLARKE Clement

PROFILE -
The Online Compass Museum doesn't possess any information about this compass maker.
This exhibit was produced in India by reproduction manufacturers (see also MISCELLANEOUS / Fakes).
One can tell this by some details like the magnetic needle's bright red point and the green central jewel.
The clinometer's arrow point is also at least very unprecise.



(click on picture for enlarged view) Photo courtesy Jaypee		 Technical Data
Dimensions (approx.) : 150 x 150 x 70 mm
Additional instruments: two levels, clinometer in the lid,
- Sight: two vertical tabs with a pin-hole each in the left and right case walls. A foldable two-piece telescope. CM ruler on the lower front case wall.
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- D -

DUCHEMIN

PROFILE - Emile Marin DUCHEMIN (who lived 11 rue de la Bienfaisance in Paris) developed and filed a patent in 1874 for this compass system that he called BOUSSOLE CIRCULAIRE (circular compass). He reported on the trials at sea in a book that was reprinted several times.
The Compass Museum has no other information concerning this inventor nor this compass.



(Click on the picture for an enlarged view)

Short description together with the drawing on the title page: "an external magnetized circle (A) is connected with an inner magnetized circle (B) by means of a bar (C) made of aluminum or another metal. The magnetization is maximum at the North and South points and diminishes gradually towards the EAST and WEST points (n-n line).

This book concerning the trials at see can be consulted in the public library of the Musée National de la Marine in Paris.




Above - Inscription on either side of the North mark: Boussole Duchemin Bté S.G.D.G.
Bottom - Inscr. at the South end: Dumoulin-Froment Constructeur



(Click on picture above for an enlarged view - Pictures courtesy Jaypee)		 Technical Data
Patent no. 101.992
- Diameter (approx.): 250 mm (10 in.)
- Inscriptions on the East side:
. inner circle: N° 1616 E.M.D.
. external circle: Emile Marin Duchemin - No. 1616

Patent No. 101.992 (50 p. with additions - copy can be ordered)



(Click on pict. above for a view of the corresponding figure 2 of the patent)

NOTE: these pictures show an instrument in very sad condition. Its remains were glued onto a marble grip or foot like the religious tool called monstrance. The photographs were taken at an antiques shop in Paris.
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- H -

HOULLIOT

PROFILE - Former French company (voir aussi COLLIGNON)



(Cliquer sur la photo pour l'agrandir)
 Predecessor of  COLLIGNON-HOULLIOT

Photo de g. : Portrait de l'entreprise paru dans le catalogue de l'Industrie Française des Instruments de des précision (édition 1901-1902)
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- L -

LUDOLPH

PROFILE - W. LUDOLPH GmbH & Co. KG (Bremerhaven) is a German company manufacturing nautical and aeronautical compasses (see also this latter category - more information HERE.)

Examples of older compasses


(Click for enlarged view) 		Early model

(picture Franz Rothbrust)


Photo courtesy Ebay seller 3-2-1meins-deins		 Cabin-roof mounted compass with mirror and lighting.
Installed in fisher and official boats.

Technical Data
- Serial no.: 37326 (built August 1970)
- Diameter
. bowl alone: 205 mm
. with gimbal: 245 mm
. with feet: 330 mm
- Height (with feet): 180 mm
- Materials
. Bowl, gimbal and rings: brass
. Float: Brass, silver coated.
. Card: mica
... ...
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- M -

McGREGOR

PROFILE -: D.  McGregor & Co. Ltd was a Scottish manufacturer (Glasgow, Greenock, Liverpool).
(No other info momentarily available - Thank you for  helping us completing this description)



(Click to view dial)


All pictures by Diarios San Cayetano		 Technical Data
- Dimensions (diam. x height):
28 x 17 mm (11" x  6.69")
- Weight : 9,5 kg (21 lbs)
Markings on the compass card:
- Standard Compass
- Serial No.: 3142
- Latest improved “Illuminated”.

The lower surface is made of glass.

MORIN

Profile - Former French company (more information HERE).
See also the categories Survey & Artillery compasses, Marching compasses and Pocket compasses

Opticompas SRPI - MORIN (France). Late 20th century.
Bearing compass. Sighting is made from the side through a prism. The capsule is protected by a soft rubber envelope with sharp angles representing the winds. By removing a white plastic protection disk placed under the box, one can look at a map through the transparent capsule and read the angle values of a second dial (90° offset) visible from above by means of a magnifying glass.


Model: Opticompas

(click on picture for enlarged view)

Technical Data
- Dimensions: 90 x 90 x 40 mm.
- Weight: 170 g (210 with protection box).
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- N -

NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA

PROFILE - (more information HERE).
(more information HERE).




 Technical Data
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- P -

PLASTIMO

PROFILE - French company created in 1963 (more details on this company's website www.plastimo.com)



The compass in its box		 Model xy (1950's ?)
The North mark looks like a simplified fleur-de-lis (three diamonds) on top of an arrow.
Technical Data
Diam.: ca. 150 mm

Pictures courtesy Jaypee

(Photo courtesy Jaypee -
click on pictures for enlarged views)

Exploded view of a CONTEST compass
Graphic courtesy PLASTIMO


Technical Data
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- S -

SAURA

PROFILE - Japanese company (see this company's own website: http://www.nichigosan.co.jp/saura/htm/company.htm).
Its products are also sold by CARAC Co. Ltd.
pictures of a hand bearing compasss: http://www.sailing.dittybag.net/antiques/shbcompass/page_1.htm

SESTREL

PROFILE - Sestrel is the Trade Mark brand of Henry Browne & Son who were important British compass makers. This company was sold to Lilley & Gillie (products: magnetic compasses MK2000 & MK2002) and SIRS Navigation (both in UK) in 1993.  
HENRY BROWNE & SON, Ltd was established in (18..?) in Barking, London in Essex. They were respected English instrument makers that had been making fine quality compasses, ship's clocks, inclinometers, sextants, and chandlery items for over 140 years. Their “Dead Beat“ compass design is well dampened and serves to reduce oscillations. It is reported that this design compass was fitted to many Allied ships during WW II. Over the more recent years, there has been a consolidation of British instrument makers and the firm of Henry Browne & Son has changed hands a number of times. At last count, it became part of Lillie & Gillie of London for what may be the second time.
Another famous SESTREL product is their landing compass (example: see Aeronautical compasses, Air Ministry 06)

SUUNTO

PROFILE - Finnish company (see SUUNTO's own website)



(Picture courtesy Jaypee - click on the picture for an enlarged view)		 Technical Data
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- V -

VION

PROFILE - Former French company
(more information HERE)

Technical Data
- Diameter: 103 mm
- Depth: 45 mm
- Weight (compass alone): 300 g
- Material: Bakelite
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- W -

WILKIE

PROFILE - Former German company
(more information HERE)




Catalog (1972)
 Bearing compass

Technical Data
- Dimensions: 75 x 50 x 16 mm
- Weight: 38 gr

Technical Data...
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