Dry card compass

Bowl: Brass painted black. Has stop mechanism on side. Two release screws so that glazed top verge and azimuth circle can be released. Verge has 4 cardinal points marked in degrees, 0 - 90 - 180 - 270 - Inside bowl metallic with black lubber line. Stop mechanism fits over pivot. Fitted with tripod holder.

Card: Mica covered with paper. Blue with black markings graduated to quarter points quadrantally in degrees. Has crown. Brass and jewelled pivot cap centre. Diam. 4" (10.2 cm)

Needle: Two parallel bar magnets held to the underside of card by brass framework. Weighted. Length 3.5" (8.9 cm)

Pivot: Brass spike in mount secured to base of bowl.

Azimuth circle: Has front and back sights. Back sight fixed prismatic with peep hole, slit and two filters. Front sight hinged arch and thread with hinged jet reflector. two brassmover knobs (one missing)

Box: Wooden. contains small pivot box with two spare pivots and wooden tripod apex fitting. Has own key attached to box strap.

Dims: Box 6.25" x 6.25" x 5.5" (15.9 cm x 15.9 cm x 14 cm)
Overall height 6.5" (16.5 cm)

Object Details

ID: ACO0105
Type: Dry card compass
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Henry Barrow & Co
Date made: 1848
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Compass Observatory
Measurements: Overall: 110 mm x 140 mm x 130 mm
Parts: Dry card compass