Dry card compass

Bowl: Brass painted black. Glazed has brass cover. Front and back sights.
Card: Mica covered with paper. Green on top blue underneath. Green with black markings graduated to four cardinal points and to 130 degrees. Wax balancing blob on underside. Diameter 2.5" (6.4 cm)
Needle: Elongated diamond attached to card by two brass studs. Length 2.1" (6.4 cm)
Pivot stud: Brass and jewelled
Pivot: Brass spike with card stop attached. Card stop radial arm connected to front sight.
Sights: Front: Open arch with wire, hinged, operates card stop when folded own. Can be folded down beneath brass cover. Manual card stop button attached to hinge. Back: Hinged prismatic with eye hole and slit.
O.A. Height 3.25" (8.1 cm)

Object Details

ID: ACO0112
Type: Dry card compass
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Dover, John
Date made: circa 1850
People: Royal Navy
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Compass Observatory
Measurements: Overall: 75 mm; Diameter: 80 mm
Parts: Dry card compass