Liquid compass

Bowl-Black painted brass, filler plug at side, expansion chamber at base. A solid lead-filled base is fitted which has a hole provided into which a lamp can be inserted. Inside of bowl unpainted, has a black wire lubber line attached to underside of verge ring and at base. Verge ring graduated to 360 degs. Mounted in brass gimbal ring 8.252 (21cm) dia. which is secured in a spring suspension of two brass rings of square section 8.65" (22cm) dia. connected together by vertical links mounted in binnacle top.
Card-Dia. 5.1" (13cm) white painted mica(?) with black markings, graduated to 360 degs. attached to black float dome at centre.
Binnacle Top-Dia. 10.25" (26cm). Base 11.4" x 11.4 (29 x 29cm). Heavy brass. Two corrector magnet rods 9" (22.9cm) are carried in fore-and-aft position either side of bowl and two athwartships plates, each 5" (12.8cm) lomg, mounted below bowl. The horizontal corrector magnets are of square cross-section and are carried on slides on a graduated brass tube 14.3" (67cm) long. The tube can be slewed and a scale at top shows the angle of slew. The vertical magnets are inside the tube and the other end of the chain is attached to a slider on a graduated rod.

Object Details

ID: ACO0778
Type: Liquid compass
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Vessels: Shika fl.1945
Date made: 1945
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Compass Observatory
Measurements: Overall: 210 mm x 290 mm x 290 mm x 22 kg
Parts: Liquid compass