212 212.
A FINE EARLY 19TH-CENTURY IVORY POCKET COMPASS BY GILBERT, LONDON
with 1¾in. mica-backed card signed Gilbert & Sons, near Ye India House, Londoni, sealing wax balancing, removable brass pin, supporting inner ivory restraint ring and turned, threaded lid -- 1½ x 2½in. (4 x 6.4cm.)
£1200-1800 213.
A RARE YACHT COMPASS BINNACLE BY SPENCER, BROWNING & RUST, LONDON, C.1800, RETAILED BY ATKEY & SON, COWES
the 4in. dry card compass card signed and inscribed as per title, backed with newspaper and braced with brass and steel, contained within a ballasted gimbal-mounted bowl within heavy brass binnacle with tapering glazed top and side securing rings -- 13in. (33cm.) high
Spencer, Browning & Rust (founded 1785) continued as a trade name until 1840, long after the original partners had died. The newspaper lining the back of the card has been identified as coming from a copy of The Times from 7th March, 1854, suggesting that the card was refurbished then or shortly after. Atkey & Son changed their name to Pascall, Atkey & Son in 1799 and continue to trade from the same premises.
£1200-1800 213
214. AN ADMIRALTY STANDARD COMPASS PATTERN 1, 1840-88
with 7½in. diameter blue and black compass card contained within separate lid compartment, oxidised-brass and white- painted bowl with lacquered-brass fittings, folding sights, shades etc., with gimbals and mounting frame, contained within fitted case of issue with plummet line, bubble level and set of typed notes from The Admiralty Compass Observatory, for determining magnetic variation dated 13 July 1953 and inspection stamps inside for 1937, the compass frame and box numbered B40, securing hooks and original leather carry strap, overall measurements -- 10¼ x 15 x 13½in. (26 x 38 x 34.5cm.)
The lack of a good-quality standard compass for naval use had long been a problem for the Royal Navy. Various learned experts (such as Dr. Gowan Knight) had produced instruments which were highly satisfactory as long as they were tested ashore. Once aboard, the rolling ship combined with dramatic magnetic variation produced by iron guns and girdles, made them more of a hazard than a help if blindly trusted by ships’ commanders. The response to growing peril was the Admiralty Compass Committee, founded in July 1837 and comprising six members (including Francis Beaufort and James Clark Ross), they first met on the 24th July that year in the Admiralty Library. The product of this Committee was the Admiralty Standard Compass Pattern 1 of 1840 and which transformed marine compasses overnight. Orders from foreign navies flooded in and it remained the principal RN compass until 1888, after which it was re-designated a ‘landing compass’. In his book Steady As She Goes, Cmdr A. Fanning states ‘Although it was removed from the Rate Book shortly before World War II, it is known to have still been in operational service as late as 1944, over a century after its introduction’; This example remained in Admiralty surplus stores until sold to the present vendor in 1988.
£700-900 214 71
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