WRIST AND PIN-ON COMPASSES (cont'd)

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- S -

SCUBAPRO

PROFILE - Manufacturer of diving materiel created in the early 60's. The company's logo (the letter S with a fishtail-shaped end) is used for the cardinal point SOUTH. For more information, visit this company's website.
A model with the famous S, selected by the French Police was built by BEN.



Contemporary compass
with side window

(Pic. courtesy Jaypee, priv. coll.) 		Technical Data
- Strap: plastic
- Dimensions
- Diameter: approx. 60 mm
- Depth: approx. 60 mm
- Weight: approx. 150 gr
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SEARS

PROFILE - US retail company founded by Richard Warren SEARS.

This compass was made in Japan  (s. more Jap. compasses HERE).

 Catalog 1897 - Compasses made by different manufacturers


 Catalog front page Fall 1900
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SEMIONOVA

PROFILE -  M. I. Semionova (Семенова) was a Russian inventor or manufacturer.
This is (up to now) the only known Russian-made wrist compass with floating disk. The case, though, is identical to the ancestor's...

Technical Data
- Diameter: 41 mm
- Depth: 12 mm
- Weight: 30 gr
- Sighting system: rifle-type identical to the Red Army's wrist compasses (AYRKKA, ZUP etc.)
- Transit lock: side (screw head)
- Inscription on the floating disk: MODEL ART. TECH.
(Click on picture for enlarged view)
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SILVA

PROFILE - Swedish and U.S. manufacturer (for more information click HERE).
SILVA also produced wrist and pin-on compasses*.
At least four different models are known to have been produced. Several versions of the wrist compass model Globetrotter are known. They were made in or for various European countries like Sweden but also France (see LEMAIRE), Bulgaria (see GUGK), Poland etc. They featured various divisions (degrees and MILS).

See also in Marching compasses, Orienteering and Scoutism.

1 - Wrist Compasses: Model Globetrotter

 

Picture at right: ad c.1950

Technical data
- Diam.: 2" (50 mm)
- Cardinals: swedish
- Inscriptions on the back: SILVA - A.-B. BROD. KJELLSTROM -
Stockholm Sweden - 68 - U.S.A. Pat. 2136970.
The object of the patent filed by Henning Rudolf Ekkeberg in 1937 was a fluid capsule capable of resisting variations of the fluid volume due to temperature changes. (Copy in English available)
Model Cruiser (1955)



Pic. by courtesy of Douglas Carter
(Click on image for detail view)

Picture as published in B. Kjellstrom's famous book Be an expert with Map and Compass, 1955
(see details in Marching compasses)


The model Cruiser was only produced in the U.S.A.
View of the Cruiser reverse side with Swedish (SV) and U.S. patents no.



Technical data
- Dia. overall: 35 mm
- Dia. capsule : 23 mm
Model name ?

   

Picture by courtesy of Douglas Carter

Technical Data
- Dia. :  mm
 Model Silvette ?



Picture by courtesy of Douglas Carter

Technical Data
- Dia. :  mm
NOTE: A wrist compass called Model no. 11 SILVETTE is listed in a user instr.* but we have no picture of it. Thank you for helping.

Maybe it is one of the compasses displayed at left.

* Colour photocopy available
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Pin-on or lapel compasses for hunters: The original ones had an aluminum casing. A modern version made of plastic is also used in some countries for jet fighter pilots' first aid kits (e.g. below German Luftwaffe, BUND = Bundeswehr, i.e. Federal Army, with NATO Stock Number). This instrument was part of the first aid kit and attached to the inflatable SECUMAR vest.

2 - Pin-on (Lapel) Compasses model Huntsman

  

Below: German Luftwaffe (survival kit)

From l. to r.: Mil. markings - Sundial - Compass open
Sun-watch flap function



User instructions in box


Technical Data
- Dimensions (folded):
46 x 38 x 10 mm
- Weight: 33 gr
- Sun watch function
- Date: 1950's


Advert. with user instr.  (1954)




* Compare with  MARBLE'S, WILKIE and TRU NORD.
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SPIROTECHNIQUE

PROFILE - French company created in 1946 as a department of l'Air Liquide to manufacture and distribute the products of the inventors J.-Y. Cousteau and Emile Gagnan (aqualung). It changed its name in 2003 into LA SPIROTECHNIQUE AQUALUNG. The production included besides diving gear (air tanks and regulators) accessories like these small compasses.

Already in the 50's, LA SPIROTECHNIQUE produced the VZ compass named after its inventor Serge VEZ. This compass is made of two spheres. The smaller one contains the compass card equiped with magnet, distance pin and weight. It floats inside a bigger one filled with damping fluid. The company's name LA SPIROTECHNIQUE printed on the card was replaced by the words U.S. DIVERS on the export model for the USA.


The VZ compass in the
Spirotechnique catalogue
(1960's).
Patent no. 1.189.600 issued on Oct. 5, 1959 (for illustr. click HERE).

(Photos by J. GRÉPINET,
see LINKS, COMPASSES FOR DIVERS)		 Model VZ or Sphéricompas

 		 Technical Data
- Strap: plastic
Dimensions
- Diameter (sphere): 45 mm
- Depth (sphere + basis): 55 mm
- Weight: 95 gr



Export version (USA) marked U.S. DIVERS


(Pic. court. J. GRÉPINET,
see in LINKS, COMPASSES FOR DIVERS)		 Model ALBATROS



(click on image for enlarged view)
 Technical Data
- Strap: plastic
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 50 mm
- Depth: 35 mm
- Weight: 80 gr
- Manufactured (approx.): 1950's-60's



(Click on picture for enlargement)


Reverse side 		Official model formerly used by the French Police

Technical Data
- Casing: polyester
- Diameter: 70 mm
- Depth: 50 mm
- Divisions: 360°
- Filling screw on side, sticker "GLYCOL" on reverse side
- Manufactured (approx.): 1970's
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STEWARD

PROFILE - J. H. Steward Ltd was a British manufacturer (for more information click HERE).
This instrument is probably a military version of the one featuring a Service Pattern card proposed in a Siebe Gorman catalogue.
See also Marching compasses.



 
Siebe Gorman & Co.
1957 catalogue

The Singer's patent type dial. The North mark is a red square with a vertical line of radium paint across it. Red marching course line on the crystal .

(Click on the pictures for enlarged views)		 Technical data
- Diameter: 45 mm
- Depth: 16 mm
- Divisions: 360°

Below: plain version



Picture courtesy Harvey Withers
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SUPERIOR MAGNETO Corp.

PROFILE - Former US manufacturer (L.I. CITY, New York) - (see also Marching compasses)
It produced marching and wrist-top compasses (see also TAYLOR below).
(More details are to be found in US Paratroopers' Wrist Compasses).

WWII Paratrooper compass



(Click on the pictures for enlarged views)

See also TAYLOR for the differences between both.		 Markings on the casing:

Technical Data
- Diameter: 55 mm
- Depth: 18 mm
- Weight: 63 gr (with strap)
- Divisions: 360°, clockwise
- Material: plastic
- Colour: greenish-brown

Paratrooper with his compass (1944) (Photo: US Army)
Korean War (June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953)
Paratrooper compass

 Markings on the casing:

Technical Data
- Diameter: 51 mm
- Depth: 18 mm
- Weight: 68 gr (with strap)
- Divisions: 360°, clockwise
- Material
. Casing: metallic
. Inner capsule: plastic
- Colour: greenish-brown
- Date: 9-50
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SUUNTO

PROFILE - Finnish company founded in 1936 by the engineer Tuomas Vohlonen, inventor of the first fluid filled compass (Patent accepted in 1933, British issue no. 426,913, see details below). For more information go to this company's own website.
Fluid compasses already existed before but this new designed consisted of a capsule made of elastic parts of identical dilatation coefficient glued together so that no bubble could form under any temperature or pressure variation (compare with the patent filed by Nya Instrumentfabriks A.-B. Lyth in 1932, Swiss issue no. 165,879).

All Suunto wrist-top compasses feature the same design and dimensions: a square aluminium case containing a fluid dampened compass capsule, a leather strap attached to it and a gun-type sight on the bezel. There are only slight design differences like the various conversion tables on the back. These compasses are not really wrist compasses: the lanyard has a button-hole at its end to attach it on a uniform button but it can be used as a a line of sight seen from above (see picture below).

(see also NAUTICAL COMPASSES)

Fig. of original patent with user instructions (Polish version, identical to Finnish version)

German version of the finnish patent
(accepted in 1934, published in 1941)

(Click on  pictures for enlarged views)
Fig. 1 and 2, German Patent


Markings: SA/T, PMT

Correspondance formula for degrees (astetta) and mils (6000, piirua). 
100 piirua = 6 astetta
1 aste = 17 piirua
Picture at right: full table

Four rulers for direct reading of distances on maps: 1:20.000, 1:50.000, 1:100.000 and 1:42.000

Technical Data
- Strap: leather
- Case: aluminum
- Bezel: aluminum
- Dimensions: 53 x 53 x 23 mm
- Weight: 125 gr
- Divisions: 6000 mils, counterclockwise


Same design but built by
PHYSICA A/B HELSINKI

Four rulers for direct reading of distances on maps: 1:25.000, 1:500.000, 1:100.000 und 1:1.000.000.

Technical Data
- Strap: leather
- Case: aluminium
- Bezel: brass
- Dimensions: 53 x 53 x 23 mm
- Weight: 125 gr
- Divisions: 360 degrees, counterclockwise
- Ruler 50 mm


Army version with a black bakelite back plate
and a 1:20,000 scale on one side.

Technical data
- Strap: leather
- Case and bezel: aluminium
- Dimensions: 53 x 53 x 23 mm
- Weight: 125 gr
- Divisions: 6000 mils,counterclockwise
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SWITZERLAND (SWISS MADE - temporary designation)

PROFILE - In the 1930's, Swiss watch manufacturers built also compasses which were sold by numerous watch retailers and jewelers in all Europe.
Typical Swiss design of a compass dial (compare with the pocket compass made for KREIS, Berlin, provider of pilots' watches and with the instrument in russian above).



Technical Data
- Diameter: 35 mm
- Depth: 8 mm
- Divisions: 360°
- Rotating crystal with lubber line
- Lever actuated needle transit lock at the side, concealed between the two walls of the casing. A protection grid culd be also adapted:

(Picture by courtesy of Ian Dinnis)
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- T -

TAYLOR

PROFILE - Former US-Company (Rochester, New York) - mostly known for the large variety of boy scouts and girl guides pocket compasses (s. this category) and for a paratroopers' wrist-top compass reproduction (see also SUPERIOR MAGNETO Corp. above). More details are to be found in US Paratroopers' Wrist Compasses.

Paratroopers' compass

  
(Click on the picture at left for an enlarged view)

Main differences between the Sup. Mag. and the Taylor versions:
- The brand name Taylor is indicated on the crown's rim. The figures are small and the cardinal points large, leaving an empty margin between them and the rim.
When tilting the compass against the light one can see a spiral design (pict. at right).
- The magnetic needle is triangular and broad whereas the SUP MAG's needle is thin and straight. The big arrow point for the marching course on the plastic crystal is filled with paint from above, it is very thin and painted from under the crystal on SUP MAG.		 Markings on the casing, masked when the strap is installed:
- TAYLOR Logo



- ROCHESTER N. Y./U.S.A.

On some items, a date is printed on the back of the spiral bottom plate.		 Technical Data
- Diameter: 58 mm
- Depth: 20 mm
- Weight: 60 gr (with strap)
- Divisions: 360°, clockwise
- Colour: brownish-red
Side view of the crown:
Top: SUPERIOR MAGNETO
Bottom: TAYLOR

Taylor produced also after WWII compasses for divers and hikers and pin-on compasses like MARBLE'S, TRU NORD and WILKIE.

Divers compass
(catalog 1961)



Click on the pictures for detailed views
Divers compass - Technical Data
- Diameter: 55 mm
- Depth: 40 mm
- Weight: 100 gr (with strap)
- Divisions: only the main cardinal points are marked by a letter. The middle positions are marked by dashes and dots.
Hikers compass
Technical Data
- Diameter: 35 mm
- Depth: 10 mm
- Weight: 35 gr (with strap)
- Divisions: only the main cardinal points are marked by a letter. The middle positions are marked by a dash. North and South have in addition a luminous paint mark.
- Production period: early 1950's ?
Hikers compass
Technical Data
- Diameter: 45 mm
- Bezel:
- Date: 1950-60s?? 		Pin-on compass

The black and white card's design on the wrist compass above and the pin-on compass left is a negative copy of the original  TRU NORTH's design (see patent's fig. below in TRU NORD).
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TRITON

PROFILE -Divers' compass made by Sea-Well Corp. (located in Des Plaines, Illinois) in the 1960s (?)




Click on the picture for a
detailed side view

  

The small size is not problematic since the objects appear enlarged under ater.
 Technical Data
- Dimensions: 48 x 28 x 22 mm
- Weight: 17 gr (with strap) 
- Divisions: only the main cardinal points are marked by a letter. The middle positions are marked by a dash. West is on the right of true North like on spherical nautical compasses).
- The dome's shape is designed so as to concentrate through optical magnification even faint light onto the horizontal card, 50% of which is seen in a mirror.
- The internal volume is extremely small (cyclinder: 18mm x 5 mm) and doesn't need thus to contain any fluid (see side view pic. at left and  view from below). The compass is an insert marked: MADE IN U.S.A. - PAT. PENDING.
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TRU NORD

PROFILE - U.S. manufacturer located in Brainerd (Minnesota).
Special pin-on compass for hunters. It is built in a case that can be pinned onto a jacket's lapel. In this way, one can always keep an eye on it while both hands remain free to hold a rifle (other pin-on compasses: go to AIRGUIDE, MARBLE'S and WILKIE).
In the U.S. and Canada is the magnetic North pole very near and a compass needle can thus strongly deviate (up to+/- 30 degrees) from the geographical "True North" if you are in Alaska or New-Foundland. For this aim, the company TRU NORD offers an instrument already compensated for the region where it will be used and which already points to the "True North", hence the company's name.
The company also ensures new compensation if one moves to another region.
NOTE: This company claims that this system was invented by Vern E. Budlong shortly after WWII. In fact, compasses called TRUE NORTH and using this technique were manufactured from as early on as 1870 (see Casella Catalogue in Compass Chronicles, p. 48-49 and Symons's Patent no. 3293, dated Sept. 20, 1875). Symons's card design was also used by Taylor although in inverted colours.


(Pictures arkmay2 - priv. coll.)

Click on the pictures
for enlarged views
 Technical Data
- Diameter: 32 mm
- Length: 65 mm
- Weight: 42 gr
- Divisions: only 4 cardinals
- Radium paint markings: outer borderline of North arrow, line between needle cap and South
Symons's patent no. 3293
- "a": position of the magnetic needle under the compass card
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- U -

UOMZ (YOM3 in cyrillic letters)

Profile - Optics company in the former USSR.
UOMZ / YOM3 is the  abbreviation of Уральский оптико-механический завод, Свердловск (Екатеринбург) i.e. Ural Optics and Mechanics (plant), Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg).
Picture at right: the company's logo engraved on the compass face (source: list of logos of the soviet optics industry on NOVACON's website).
NOTE: this instrument was originally part of a military range finder used in the Red Army!



Click on pictures for enlarged views)

Below: rear side of leather holder:


Inscriptions on the dial:
- Top (in Russian): NORTH BLUE (North is where the needle's blue end points to)
- Left side: the Soviet Union's and the Red Army's symbols (hammer and sickel, a 5-branched star) and a logo representing a beam crossing a concave lense and being reflected by a mirror.
 Technical Data
Compass alone:
- Diameter: 2.94" / 75 mm
- Depth: 0.78" / 15 mm
- Weight: 150 gr
- Manufactured: 1942
- Divisions: 6000 MILS, counter-clockwise
- Strap length: 11" 7 / 30 mm

NOTE : This large compass was originally not intended to be born at the wrist. It is a well done and maybe unique makeshift product. All fixations are rivets and it cannot be dismantled.
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U.S. Gauge Co.

PROFILE - U.S. company established in 1904 and located in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, (new name: AMETEK).
On top of the casing is a rifle-type sight and on its side, a window opening on the compass rose is marked YOU ARE LOOKING. One only needs then to read the bearing's value. The line-of-sight on the casing is turned by 45° against the strap so as to allow for taking a bearing with extended arm. These words also appear on a smaller model called "Trail-blazer" sold by a retailer called The  ROYAL AMERICAN COMPANY, a division of SOUTHWESTERN HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT CO.

See also Pocket compasses.




(Detail view of the dial: click on the picture above)


Reverse side view w/o strap.
Compare with the compass made by Marine Compass Co.

(Click for enlarged view)
 Compass, wrist , non liquid, Type L-1, Spec no. 21051-A

Technical Data
- Diameter: 46 mm
- Depth: 21 mm
- Weight (strap incl.): 35 gr
- Divisions: 360°, clockwise
- Strap width: 14 mm


The small modell called trail-blazer with leather strap and a view of its box (below). Inside the lid: the unser's instructions:


(Click on the pictures for enlarged views)


Note the words YOU ARE LOOKING on either side of the lubber's line. The compass was available with a whit eor a black case. 		Technical Data
- Case width: 28 mm
- Depth: 20 mm
- Weight (strap incl.): 15 gr
- Divisions: ship compass type
- Strap width: 16 mm
- Liquid damped rose
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- W -

WALTHAM

PROFILE - Waltham C. Co. was a U.S. watch maker created in 1850 (more information HERE).
The company's name is either written in one single word (WALTHAM) or as an abbreviation (W. C. Co). We display here an infantrymen (or paratroopers) compass and a divers compass issued in the 50's and 60's (Korea and Vietnam wars era).
See also POCKET and ESCAPE compasses.


(Click on image for detailed view) 		Technical Data
- Diameter: 29mm
- Thickness: 10mm
- Weight: 20gr
- Marking (on rear face): R-88-C-890 (see box at right)
- ca. 1956 (Korea war)


(Click on image for detailed view)
 SEAL diving compass. The United States Navy Sea, Air and Land Forces, commonly known as the Navy SEALs, are the Special Operations Forces of the United States Navy, employed in direct action and special reconnaissance operations. SEALs are also capable of employing unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, and counter-terrorism missions.
(Definition: WIKIPEDIA)

Technical Data
- Diameter: 58mm
- Thickness: 22mm
- Weight: 190gr

(Click on image for detailed view) 		Tiny compass looking like a lady’s watch, fitted on a slim high-quality leather wristband, featuring a rotating capsule with a lubber line under the glass and a dash of luminous paint as a north reference located in a slot on the case rim.

Technical Data
- Dia. (compass): 17mm
- Thickness: 8mm
- This item is identical to the NATO escape compass
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WBT - White, Bottomley, Thomson

PROFILE - Former British manufacturer. The letters WBT are the initials of three partners, James White, James Bottomley and William Thomson. The latter is nobody else than the famous Lord Kelvin (for more details see Wikipedia and many other website)
This compass system is based on Capt. Chetwynd's patent. The card's design is similar to Singer's pattern: i.e. bright cardinal markings on dark ground on the Northern half and vice versa on the Southern side.
See also KELVIN's Nautical compasses.

View of the side lamp connector




(Click on the pictures for enlarged views)
The dial as seen lit through the side window

WBT's logo on the
North fleur-de-lys
 Technical Data
- Diameter: 2.5" / 67 mm
- Depth: 1.5" / 29 mm
- Side port dia.: 16 mm
- Weight: 0.5 lb. / 250 gr
- Compass card divisions: 360°
- Course reference : a needle (s. pic. below)
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WILKIE

PROFILE - Former German company (for more information click HERE).
A typical characteristic of WILKIE was the stabilisation winglets on either side of the magnetic needle
See also POCKET, MARCHING, NAUTICAL and SURVEY compasses

DIVERS COMPASS Type UK 46 F (flat)
(compare with PASTO, catalogue 1971)
(View dismantled: please click HERE - Picture courtesy Franz Rothbrust)
Technical Data - Capsule dia.: 1" / 47mm, outer dia.: 57mm, Height: 17mm.
Fluid-filled, Needle with stabilizing winglets. Divisions: every 10 degr., Card material: aluminum, jewel cap, strap material: synthetic.
DIVERS COMPASS Type UK 47 F (spherical)
UK = Unterwasserkompass (underwater compass)
F = Flüssigkeitsgefüllt (fluid-filled)

(Pictures: catalog for the year 1972)

WILKIE proposed also several models of combined instruments depth gauge/compass.
Above: model with 0-80 m scale. At right: model with 0-250 ft scale (catalog 1972)
(Click for enlarged view - picture Franz Rothbrust)

(Click for enlarged view)


(Click to enlarge)		 This compass (Type AK, s. catalogue below) comprises a typical WILKIE fluid capsule secured in the casing by a crown-shaped nut exactly like the MARBLE'S pin-on compasses.

 Technical data
- Diameter: 32 mm
- Depth: 15 mm
- Weight: 44 gr
- Round knurled nut


 


(Click for enlarged view)
 HIKERS' COMPASSES
TYPE AK 30 F



Capsule like above, hexagonal nut


TYPE AK 1 F

Pictures courtesy Doug Carter


 

HUNTERS' PIN-ON COMPASS - Type H 30 F

WILKIE also built a special compass for hunters (H = Hunter) based on the same design than MARBLE'S famous long stem instrument. The main difference was the typical fluid damping of the card.

See also the compensated TRU NORD.
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- X - Y -

YAL

PROFILE - former Czech manufacturer of most military optics.



 (Photos courtesy Auktion-Live.de)


(Rifle scope photo courtesy of VIC THOMAS)

Click on the picture for an enlarged view		 Technical Data
- Dimensions
. Pouch: ... mm
. Compass diameter: ... mm
. Depth: ... mm
- Weight: ... g
- Graduation:
. Marching course scale: 360 deg., clockwise
. Compass rose: 360 deg. clockwise?
- Prism: hinged
- Indications on lid top:
. yal: manufacturer's code
. crossed swords: symbol for Czech military materiel (corresponds to the british crow foot)
. Model: VZ54, serial no.: 6134
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- Z -

Z.O.P. (ЗOП in cyrillic letters)

PROFILE - Abbreviation of Zavod O... (?) Priborov (Factory for ... Instruments). This USSR company built a compass model that differed from the Red Army's famous one (AURKKA).



(Click on the picture above for an enlarged view of the dial)



Z.O.P.'s logo: the letter P stands in the centre, Z and O are mingled and tilted by 45°
The lower part of the body with knurled side wall rotates.
Rest of black paint.
Technical data
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Height: 12 mm
- Weight: 42 g incl. band
- Divisions: 6000 MILS, counterclockwise
- Material: nickel?

Z.U.P. (ЗУП in cyrillic letters)

PROFILE - Zavod Uchebnikh Priborov (Factory for Educational Instruments, former USSR)
During the Soviet era this USSR company built the same compasses as the RED ARMY (AURKKA).
See also Pocket compasses.



Model name ADRIANOVA
ZUP's logo


(Picture Bajo / MilitariaFundForum)
 Technical Data
- Diameter: 50 mm
- Depth: 20 mm
- Weight: 60 gr
- Graduations:
. 360 degrees clockwise (inner scale)
. 6000 mils anticlockwise (outer scale)
- Date (at case underside) : 1940
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