Compass card

Dry compass

Card: A Kelvin type construction. The thin paper is white with black markings graduated to 1/4 points and quadrantally in degrees. There is a plain paper circle in the centre. The whole card is suspended on a silk thread complex which is attached to a thin metal circumference.

Pivot: The thin aluminium pivot is held in place by silk threads and contains a spike so that the card rests in a pivot cap.

Needle: There are eight needles slung independently beneath the card by silk threads. They are all 2.5" (6.5 cm) long.

Decorated at North point with the initials GH superimposed as a logo.

Object Details

ID: ACO0851
Type: Compass card
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Hechelmann, Georg
Vessels: Princess Cecelie 1914
Date made: circa 1886
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Compass Observatory
Measurements: Overall: 15 mm; Diameter: 250 mm