magnetic compass
Date: circa 1800
Inventory Number: 5181
Classification: Magnetic Compass
Maker: English
User: Andrew Nichols ? (1837 - 1921)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
2.3 × 10.1 × 9.9 cm (7/8 × 4 × 3 7/8 in.)
Description:
Magnetic compass fixed in square mahogany case with hinged cover. Needle is flat double-lozenge shape, blued, marked "N" & "S" in gold. Brass bearing & bezel. There is a needle lift activated by a pin when the compass cover is closed.
Compass card is printed with fleur-de-lys for North, and has 32 points. The wind rose is labeled in English initials for each point. Around the wind rose is a divided circle, marked 0°-90°-0°-90°-0° every 1°. The outermost scale is divided 0°-360° every 5°.
The maker's name is printed inside the wind rose, but it inked out, leaving just the word "LONDON." A rosette is in the center of the wind rose.
Case has bevelled corners with brass hinges and closing hook. Lid is scored with white line through the center from North. The scoring is not "true," but varies approximately 2 degrees.
Compass card is printed with fleur-de-lys for North, and has 32 points. The wind rose is labeled in English initials for each point. Around the wind rose is a divided circle, marked 0°-90°-0°-90°-0° every 1°. The outermost scale is divided 0°-360° every 5°.
The maker's name is printed inside the wind rose, but it inked out, leaving just the word "LONDON." A rosette is in the center of the wind rose.
Case has bevelled corners with brass hinges and closing hook. Lid is scored with white line through the center from North. The scoring is not "true," but varies approximately 2 degrees.
Signedin center of wind rose: [blacked out] * LONDON
ProvenanceFrom D.P. Wheatland Jan. 22, 1975. Purchased from Andrew Nathan Nichols along with other Holyoke material. Possibly used by Andrew Nichols (1837-1921) civil engineer who surveyed the Pingree Farm in 1878.