Dry compass

Card-Mica covered with paper, black with white markings, graduated to 1/4 points with a decorated East point.
Needle-T-shaped with the vertical "fin" cut away at centre to accommodate jewel cap. Has an expanded centre which has a hole cut in it to take pivot cap. Length 5" (12.7cm)
Pivot- A long cone-shaped heavy brass cup fitted jewelled pivot at top, attached through hole at centre of needle. As the point of suspension is 0.75" above plane of card a small metal disc is secured to lower end of cap. This disc has a hole through which the pivot passes to cup.

Object Details

ID: ACO0980
Type: Dry compass
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: 1844
People: Walker, William
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Compass Observatory
Measurements: Overall: 35 mm; Diameter: 120 mm