- L -
PROFILE - Swiss watch maker located in Saint Imier. He made
Mark VI
pocket
compasses for the U.S.A. and Great Britain during WWI. At that
time, WITTNAUER was their agent in the U.S.A. Another compass
was
produced in the 1940's after the Longines
WITTNAUER Watch
Company (LWWW Co.) was created in 1936.

(Photo Dennis
Honor - Click
on the picture for an
enlarged view) |
Technical Data
- Diameter: 49 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 55 gr
|
Long necks
are old pocket compasses whose loop attachment fitting is somewhat
longer than on most other compasses.
They were produced in the second half on the 19th. century, maybe
earlier. Most of them feature a bar needle and an enamel display (see
SIMMS,
SPEAR). Extremely rare
are the ones featuring a floating compass card (e.g.
NO NAME, GB).

PROFILE
- German company located near Stuttgart (for more information click
HERE)
(For Bézard compasses click
HERE).
This company produced in the 1930s a wide range of pocket compasses
(see also BUSCH). They were called
Schülerkompass
(school
boy's
compass),
Wanderkompass
(hiking compass),
Marschkompass
(marching
compass) etc. They are displayed here together since their simple
cylindrical form constitutes one category.
The product range goes from simple compasses (no. 330) to precise
models for military use or ambitious hikers. The latters featured a
rotating course setting arrrow. There were several technical solutions:
some were directly fitted under the crystal (no. 745 and 1745) and
could be set by turning the crystal frame rim. On others, this arrow
was on the rotating capsule floor under the magnetic needle (no. 2745).
They featured civil divisions (360 degrees) or military divisions (6400
mils). Some had also radium paint markings for night missions.
One model (no. 2745) ressembles the famous French MORIN model
Boussole
directrice.

|
Tin model 330
(c. 1910)

Side and rear view
(G. LUFFT - STUTTGART)
 |
Brass model
330 (c. 1930)

Technical Data (tin model)
- Diameter: 50 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 48 g
Technical Data (brass model)
- Diameter: 40 mm
- Depth: 10 mm
- Weight: 35 g
(The museum's collection also
comprises a similar model in the size of the tin model, built in a
leather strap
(see Wrist-top compasses) |

MARCHING COMPASS no. 1745 |
Tin model, WW
I
(The compass rose's grey colour is due to the decaying of the paint -
it used to be greenish-white)

Rear view marking:
EIGENTUM DER HEERESVERWALTUNG
(propriety of the Army's Administration)
This compass is identical with the BUSCH compass no. 3348 RADIA. Since
BUSCH also offers in its catalogue BÉZARD compasses
(manufactured by LUFFT), we have good reasons to believe that this
compass type was made by BUSCH and retailed by LUFFT.
Technical Data
- Diameter: 50 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 65 g
|
Brass model, 1930

Rear view:
16 JR 41 (16. Jägerregiment)

Technical Data
- Diameter: 40 mm
- Depth: 10 mm
- Weight: 44 g |
A version of
the marching compass with a cardboard rose in a brass body
 |
The user's
notice
 |
Technical Data
- Divisions 6400 mils, counterclockwise
- Diameter: 45 mm
- Depth: 13 mm
- Weight: 26 g |

No. 1950 with glass bottom. |

|
Technical Data
- Diameter: 50 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 47 g
- Divisions: 400 grades
Probably an export version export for France. In the 1950's-60's, the
French company MORIN produced the compass type Modèle 1922
based on the same principles: transparent bottom and arrow point on the
bakelite rim. |

Nr. 1745 S (with swivel case)
This compass dial design also appears in a BUSCH catalog (model Radia). |

Model no. 1950 with swivel case like no. 1745 S |

Technical Data
- Dimensions: 67 x 54 x 15 mm
- Weight: 83 g
- Divisions: 400 grad/gon
|
 |
(Click on picture below for enlarged view)

Two different sizes:
 |
Tourist
compass No. 440 D
(the letter D stands for the German word Deckel,
i.e. lid)
Concerning the German word "Tourist" in the 1930s and in East Germany
(GDR), see Glossary under MISCELLANEOUS.
Technical Data
Brass compass
- Diameter: 40 mm
- Depth: 14 mm
- Weight: 35 g |

Model No. 1540 |

Design differs slightly from the picture
(compare with the MORIN fig. 51 below). |
Technical
Data
Material: steel/silver-plated
- Diameter: 35 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 30 g
- Punch inside lid: D 35 |

Basic model no. 1745
(Compare with MORIN's
"Boussole Directrice"
fig. 1235, next item) |

Model no. 2745 D
(the letter D is for the German word Deckel, lid) |

S/No.: 36
Technical Data
- Diameter: 46 mm
- Depth: 14 mm
- Weight: 60 g
|
- M -
Profile - US manufacturer of ship compasses established 1910 in
Pembroke, Massachusetts (more information
HERE
-
under construction).
Very simple pocket compass that was probably part of the survival kit
of the US Navy soldiers.
This compass type ressembles the wrist compass made by
U.S. Gauge Div.
AM&M but is still more simple.
 |

(Click on picture for
enlarged
view) |
Compass, Magnetic, card,
pocket, Type MC-1
Technical Data
- Diameter: 2 inches / 49 mm
- Depth: 1 inch / 26 mm
- Weight: .08 lbs / 35 gr
- Inner width of the foldable strap attachments: 0.2 inch / 5 mm |
Profile - Former German manufacturer (DRGM : see MISCELLANEOUS /
Abbrev.)
Vesta cases, vesta boxes, or pocket match safes were small portable
boxes made in a great variety of forms with snapshut covers to contain
vestas (short matches) and keep them dry (Definition: Wikipedia).

Click on picture for
enlarged
view |
Vesta case

(Pictures
petra40cat) |
Technical Data
- Diameter: 48 mm
- Length (with loop): 70 mm
- Depth: 17 mm
- Weight: 29,7 gr
|
Profile - Former French company (for more information, click
HERE).
See also the categories Survey & Artillery compasses, Nautical
compasses and Marching compasses
The catalogue for the year 1930 gives a perfect overview of its product
range. MORIN specialised in the field of high precision measuring
instruments but offered also a large variety of widely used smaller
compasses.
The most well known were the so called "boussoles directrices"
(Marching compasses) used during WW I. The various items are
shown together with the catalogue illustration.
(Click on pictures for enlarged
views)
 |

Model no. 9194, fig. 1235
This compass type featured civil (360 deg.), geodesic (400 grades) or
military divisions (6400 mils).
This one also has self-luminescent radium paint markings.
|

There were many different cases for this compass type (metallic and
leather). We display some of them below.
Technical Data
- Diameter: 52 mm
- Depth: 10 mm
- Weight: 48 g. |

|

|
Technical Data
(as above)
- Divisions: 6400 mils.
- Case: aluminium, guilloché back plate
(see definition under MISCELLANEOUS).
The Museum also has another one wih a brass case.
- Compass dial: brushed (silver-coated ?) for better light
reflectivity. It reflects light in the dark like the mother-of-pearl
cards used by british compass makers- |
Brass casing
with hinged lid
Belgium's Army
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |

Technical Data
Special device for horse riding. It was attached to the saddle. It
comprises a clip and a compass pocket with a concealed flap on the
other side. |

|
 |
Technical
Data (compass: see above)
The flap has a magnifying glass so that the rider can read the compass
indication while seated upright in the saddle.
 |
 |

|
Model no.
100, fig. 51
Technical Data
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 35 g |
PROFILE - Former Swiss manufacturer located in Bienne (Biel in German)
and
Geneva and founder of RECTA in 1897 (no more data momentarily
available)
Eric
Vaucher
was the engineer who designed the famous match-box shaped RECTA DP
compass
type.
The figure 71481 engraved on the rear face together with the helvetic
cross is the patent number dated 1916 indicated on the front face. This
patent describes the locking mechanism of the magnet needle with a
sliding rod in the pendant activating a lever (see picture below). The
needle in the other compasses with French and English cardinal points
which were probably made by this company (same design of the bezel with
integrated marching course arrow) is locked by means of a cam disk
activated by the button in the pendant. This cam depresses then the
transit lock bar, pushing the needle upwards.
Version
in German with patented transit locking device

(Click for
enlarged views)
Detailed view of the
transit locking lever end
|
Vaucher
Patent
no. on rear face


(Click on the drawing for
an
enlarged view) |
French
version

Click on the picture for an enlarged view

English version
(Photo priv. coll.) |
Technical Data
(French version)
- Diameter: 50 mm
- Depth: 14 mm
- Weight: 64 gr
Material:
- German version: alumium
- Fr. and Engl. versions: brass, chromated
- Divisions (german): 4 x 90 deg.
The magnetic declination is indicated by a line of luminous paint on
the transit lock bar in the German version. This information appears as
an arrow (left of North) on the English version. On the French version,
it seems that the dial was rotated by this angle so that the transit
lock bar faces magnetic North.
|
- N -
PROFILE - Former Swiss clock maker (for more information click
HERE)

Open face compass
(compare with the hunter case made by BILAND). The needle rotates
between the face and an S-shaped
transverse bar so that the major part of it is always to be
seen. The crystal has a metallic frame.
The letters N and S
on the needle had each one two radium paint dots but at different
places: at each end of the S but at the lower ends of the N, so that
they couldn't be mistaken.
(Click on picture for
enlarged view)
|

Manufacturer's name and address:
Ulysse NARDIN, LOCLE & GENÈVE

The manufacturer's
monogramme reads:
a-B-c (?) where the
uppercase 'B' most probably stands for BILAND
who has signed a compass showing the same monogramme.
|
Technical
Data
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Depth: 6 mm
- Weight: 33 g
Two patent numbers are indicated:
76117 for France and 83025 for Switzerland (these numbers have probably
been re-used because they now refer to vapour machine systems). |
PROFILE - Former British Company
(for more information click
HERE)
N & Z built large instruments for ships. These small
instruments were in reality manufactured by F.
BARKER and Son.
(Click on pictures for enlarged
view)
Technical Data
The compass is housed in a small, 1.75 inch (45mm) diameter brass
hunter case which was originally ebonised; much of this has worn away
with age and use but the inside remains original. There is a hanging
loop and a working push-button catch. Inside the case there is a nickel
plated ring or frame, with milled edge, which slides upwards allowing
the compass to swing in its gimbals and releasing the card to search
for North. The actual compass is tiny, 1 inch (25mm) in diameter, with
a black & silvered card marked Negretti & Zambra
London. It consistently sets North. The compass weighs 100 grams, depth
closed: 17 mm.
This particular design is called
SINGER
after its inventor: i.e. the card's northern half is blackened to
render readings in the dark easier.
For comprehensive explanations, see THE COMPASS COLLECTOR's website
(LINKS).

|

By pulling a cylindrical support out of the case, the compass card
moves freely in the gimbals. |

The original compass as shown in a
F. Barker catalogue |

The compass card is made of mother of pearl with black paint
|

|
 |

Negretti und Zambra's maker punch: N&Z
Three hallmarks on the Sterling case. Passant, Lion face and "P" date
stamp for 1910.
(Click on the picture for
an enlarged view) |
Technical
Data (approx.)
- Diameter: 25 mm
- Depth: 18 mm
- Weight: 25 g
The compass card is the one of the SCOUTING compass model made by F.
Barker (see above).
(Photos courtesy Louise
Kneller, resalevintageshop) |
PROFILE - Former British Company. NEWTON & SON William worked
1841–1883, 66 Chancery Lane, London and 1851-1857, 3 Fleet
Street, Temple Bar, London. Related to NEWTON John, took over from
NEWTON & BERRY located 3 Fleet Street in London (1851-1857).

(Click
on the pictures for enlarged views) |

Pictures TML
|
Technical
data
- Diameter: 54 mm
|

(Click
on the picture to view the gimbal) |

(Click
on the picture for a detailed view)
Pictures TML |
Technical
data
- Diameter (compass bowl): 54 mm
- Case diameter: 85mm
- Case height: 55mm
- Dial diameter: 48mm, mother of pearl, SINGER's
patent design
- Weight: 380g
- Case material: wood covered in Morocco leather and lined in green
velvet
- Compass bowl moves on gimbals
|
P - Q
PROFILE - Former German Company (more information
HERE).
See also category Marching Compasses.

(Click
on the picture for an enlarged view) |
Technical
data
- Diameter: 45 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 46 gr
Very original system: the transparent capsule with an arrow painted on
it can be rotated.
The crown is identical with the one of the marching compass models
(MERIDIAN included). |
- R -
PROFILE - Manufacturer not identified. Most probably military compass.

(Click on picture for
enlarged
view) |
Technical Data
- Diameter: 49 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 55 g
The crystal features a white (former luminous?) lubber's line and is attached to
a bezel that rotates for setting the marching course.
The letter C
is the initial of the russian word CEBEP
(pronounce SEVER)
meaning North. |

(Click on pictures for
enlarged
views) |
Conversion scales:
- Top: 1 inch ottom: 25 mm |
Technical Data
- Diameter: 49 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 53 g
- Divisions: 360° clockwise, 600(0) MILS counterclockwise.
Figures and markings: luminous paint. Cardinals, see MISCELLANEOUS
- White lubber's line
- Luminous paper sheet under the skeleton dial |