ACO catalogue entry
An Austrian instrument called a “Dromoscope” and labelled “Paugger’s Patent”, probably an Austrian patent as no British one can be traced; about 1879.
Peichl’s patent specification refers to a dromoscope for use with his control compass and shows a drawing, but the instrument there shown is much simpler than this exhibit. Peichl states that its object is “to determine without calculation the arithmetical mean of two compass readings relating to corresponding inclinations and also to indicate either amplitudes of the ship’s azimuth relating to certain settings of the control compass, and constant azimuth corrections for all geographical latitudes, or to indicate definite deviations of a steering compass”.
This exhibit is very finely made and a well finished instrument and has scales by which the coefficients B, C, D and E can be set, also the variation. There are two graduated dials, one on the front with two red pointers, the other on the back with one pointer. When the scales are set to represent the coefficients of a vessel and the front pointer is set to any course, the rear one appears to show the deviation pertaining to that course.
There is no descriptive matter referring to this instrument.