Liquid compass and binnacle

Bowl-Dia:8.25" (21cm) Grey painted brass, two filler plugs at side, expansion chamber at base. Electric light fitting at base. Brass verge ring graduated to 360 degs. Domed verge glass fitted with a brass spigot at centre, for azimuth sight, and two triangular shades. Inside of bowl black with four lubber lines carried on white plastic strips attached to side of bowl. The bowl is fitted with a grey painted brass triangular shade attached to the centre brass spigot.
Card-Dia:6.9" (17.5cm) White plastic ring with black markings, graduated to 360 degs, attached by a plastic framework to white plastic float at centre.
Needle-Two needles of flat section encased in plastic mounted below card.
Pivot-Unsighted but believed to consist of an inverted pivot with the jewel supportd by a spring.
Binnacle-Dia: 16.4" (41.5cm) Grey painted plastic with grey painted metal fittings. It is fitted with an internal H.E. coil and external iron-cored B and C coils. Inside inspection covers are scissor-type correctors, sliding clamps for additional, horizontal magnets and a vertical magnet tube. Hood grey painted alloy with a round glazed aperture with shutters.

Object Details

ID: ACO0789
Type: Liquid compass and binnacle
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Plath, C.
Date made: 1942
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Compass Observatory
Measurements: Overall: 1415 mm x 480 mm x 530 mm x 95 kg