Liquid compass and binnacle

Bowl: Dia 8.25" (21.0 cm) Black painted brass, two filler plugs at side, expansion chamber at base incorporated with glazed bottom. Inside of bowl black with four white painted wire lubber lines projecting vertically from the bottom. Fitted with a high domed spherical verge glass. Mounted in a black painted brass gimbal ring 9.0" (22.9 cm) dia.
Card: Dia 7.0" (17.8 cm) White painted mica? ring with black markings, graduated to 1/4 points and to 360 deg., attached to a high domed black painted float at centre. A vertical pin on the top of the float acts as a shadow pin.
Needle: Four needles of circular section are mounted on a framework below the card.
Pivot: Unsighted.
Azimuth circle: Dia 8.5" (21.6 cm) 'Kelvin Type'. Black painted brass circle fitted with two high curved bars which carry the prism, which can be used either arrow 'Up' or 'Down', and a very short tube fitted with a thread instead of a pointer. Two shades are fitted ahead of the prism. A level is fitted close abaft the prism.
Binnacle: Dia 12.5" (31.8 cm) 'Kelvin Type' Wood with brass fittings. Fitted with sphere brackets and spheres. A door gives access to fore-and-aft and athwartship corrector magnet racks. The heeling error magnet bucket is fitted in a brass tube. Hood has a round glazed aperture at the side and a round aterture at the top with brass cover.
O.A. height 46.0" (116.8 cm)

Object Details

ID: ACO0179
Type: Liquid compass and binnacle
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Kelvin & Wilfred O White Co
Date made: 1939
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Compass Observatory
Measurements: Overall: 1168 mm x 720 mm x 390 mm x 52 kg