COMPASSIPEDIA
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The ancestors...? Large
marching compass of the same size as the Schmalcalder survey
compass but with an hinged lid.
|
  The
riveted thumb ring seems to have been added as a further
development step.
|
Technical
Data - Case dia.: ... mm - Compass card dia.: mm - Thickness: mm - Divisions: 360° - Engraving on obverse: D /|\ D (broad arrow, Dept. of Defence) A.860 (S/N?) - Transit lock: sliding side button - Brake push-button under the hinge (like on next item below) - No protection tab above the prism's lens Although unsigned, the case is identical to the item below. It can have been built in the 1840's. Compare with the large marching compass models made by Stanley and Steward. TOP OF PAGE |
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...? Late 1800s Pictures Jaypee/Compassipedia |
 F.BARKER & SON - LONDON E.C. Manufacturer's name and address on dial below the West/East line |
Technical
Data Dimensions (standard Verner's pattern): - Case dia.: 52mm - Compass card dia.: 44mm, aluminum - Thickness: 20mm - Divisions: 360° - No engraving on obverse - Transit lock: sliding side button (Verner's pattern VII) - Brake push-button on the right side (only item know with this feature). TOP OF PAGE |
1-
Model name (?)
 The case design is a mix of the classical hunter-type featuring a loop fitting and a Schmalcalder-type sighting prism. Technical Data - Dia. case: 2" (50mm) - Dia. sighting window: 3/4" (19mm) - Transit lock: Push-pull button in the loop |
The
retailer's name on the Singer's
pattern dial reads: E. Lennie -
46 Princes St., Edinburgh Below: A plain card version. It is unsigned except for the words Trade Mark London (pic. at right):  (Pictures above and at right courtesy Jaypee) |
 Note the tiny push-button card brake below the hinge.  F. Barker & Son's old logo on the prism's fitting. Note the S engraved the normal way, meaning that this item was made before Francis Barker's death in 1875. TOP OF PAGE |
2 - Verner's
Pattern Mark
V
 Pictures courtesy of Mark Thompson |
  F. Barker & Son's signature on reverse, 1907. |
 TOP OF PAGE |
| 3 - Lensatic
Compass Barker developed and patented in 1916 (no. 103,019) the principle of the lensatic compass. This solution was implemented in several instruments but abandoned by Barker who favoured the more precise prismatic system. The card's rim is upturned in the patent's description (Fig. 1, letter "g" - to view an example, click HERE). |
 Picture courtesy of Nick Godridge - Click on image for a view of the dial The window in the lid was large and centered on this model but smaller and nearer to the hinge on the definitive version (right). On this instrument, the card's rim is flat. |
 (For description click HERE) TOP OF PAGE |
4.1 - Models '42
Pattern' and Mark
III 42 Pattern descr.: It has a different shaped prism guard, dia. is only 2", the clamp screw is located at the 2 o'clock position and the thumb loop can be flat. It also existed with a Mk III card (for pic. click here). Mark III descr.: (s. T.G. Co. Ltd) The 42 Pattern and the Mark III still featured cardinals and divisions all around the case (click on link for side view comparison). |
4.2 -
Model Mk 1 Modernized Mk III with MILS card and w/o cardinals on the casing. It was used in the French Army from the early 1970s until the late 1990's (Honest John nuclear head rockets unit).  Technical Data - Dia.: 58,5 mm - Gradation: 6400 MILS (every 20) - Precision: ca. 5 Mils. - Weight: +300 gr - Illumination: Tritium vials  |
MK1 Armée Française
- Documentation (in French): • Notice MAT 1884, Version 1970 (12 p, A5 format, issue. 1970, see pic. below.) • Manuel Technique MAT 1935 (Descr., User Instr., Illustr. Parts Cat. and Repair manual, 96 p. A4 format, issue 1986).   (Photocopies available) TOP OF PAGE |
| 4.2
- Model Mk III (signed OMI) with Arabic
letters and figures (See also ISRAEL's version)  Pictures courtesy Ion Argyriadis Click for enlarged views |
The
dial, the card and the external markings are only in Arabic
language (see Miscellaneous/Cardinals points).  Signature
on
reverse: NISTRI OMI* ROMA.
*Ottica Meccanica Italiana This company which was probably acting as a retailor was closed in the 1980s. |
Technical
data Divisions: 360 deg. clockwise, radium paint on card, Tritium vials in index ring Reverse: The text below the crossed swords reads: Saudi Army S/ No. 1472 
TOP OF PAGE |
5 - Model M-71
(left)
/ M-72 (r.)   Picture at right: Mixed version with MILS divisions on a M-71 card (with a triangle for North) |
 Compare with the M-73's reinforced version below Detail view of dials: click on pictures at left in rows 5 & 6 |
M-71/M-72
- Technical
data Material: brass body and lid Weight: 315 gr The M-71 featured a triangular mark with a tritium tube on the card's and on the chapter's background North reference. This system superseded the Mk III's lozenge and broad radium markings (example: see T.G. Co. Ltd). Divisions: M-71: 360° / M-72 : MILS TOP OF PAGE |
| 6.1 - Model M-73 DICI (Soviet system: 6000 Mils gradation) These instruments feature the Arabic letter Jayish within a triangle, the symbol used by the Iraqi military during the 1970's.  Several manufacturers or retailers signed this version like ENBEECO and DOMINION. |
Manufacturer: ENBEECO Enbeeco (link to ad - Newbold & Bulford Co. Ltd.) was part of the same group as Francis Barker & Son Ltd for a short while, and they shared common ownership of the technology and tooling, so there are Enbeeco compasses that are very similar to M-73.   (Pictures Jaypee) |
Manufacturer: DOMINION Dominion was an arms supplier which had bases in Canada and other Commonwealth countries. They later changed their name to Imperial. They were probably taken over by another company. They produced definitely no compasses but bought them from a wholesaler and then branded them as their own. This instr. can in fact be a STANLEY G150. (Source: Trademarklondon.com)  Picture courtesy M. Jamison TOP OF PAGE |
6.2 - Model M-73
(with 360° dial) Technical data: (see PYSER's website) Material: aluminum case and lid Weight 215 gr |
 (Pictures Jaypee) Compared hinges attachment Left: Mk III (brazed) Right: M-73 (screws) Compare also with the models: - G150 made by Stanley - Mk. 4 made by Glauser - and also Israel and |
A new feature on the M-72
and M-73 was a
reinforced hinge in which the
pin was a predetermined breaking part. A former owner and head of
Barker
explained that the Australian soldiers used to test
their strength by holding the lid in one hand and the case in
the other and break the connection with a single twisting
movement*. For this reason Barker
developed a new hinge fixed by screws instead of a brazed tab
(see pic. at left of a partly unpainted
instr. marked only M-73
PAT. APPL. (click for pic.).
The protection grid of the sighting window was also reinforced and
attached by screws and
threaded bushes. User instructions: free download from the website trademarklondon.com * Source: courtesy of Trademarklondon.com |