Scientific Instruments

Compasses & Sundials

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Ansonia 'Sunwatch' Pocket Sundial with original card slip case and instructions. The card slip case shows an American Boy scout replete with big hat and shorts taking a bearing with the instrument. The case is brass and opens up to reveal a small fitted compass and adjustable gnomon. The dial is neatly marked for the Ansonia Clock Co. N.Y. USA with the Patent Pending which dates the piece to around 1922. Inside the lid are printed calculations and settings showing various towns and provinces with their latitude, longitude and equation. If that sounds too complex don't worry! This is a UK issue piece and also inside are the original paper instructions printed by the Ansonia Clock Co's London Offices for users in Great Britain and the Irish Free State. Super little item! Case size approx; 5.1cm x 7.7cm x 1c, £SOLD

WW1 British military Verner Mk VIII prismatic marching compass by Ed Koehn of Geneva dated 1918. Phosphated brass body with sighting window to the front cover. Mother of Pearl dial, rotatable bezel, jewelled bearing and temporary and transit lock. Comes with original beechwood shipping case! Compass size: 54mm x 20mm. £175 ($350)
Edward Koehn is a very well respected watch maker and former senior associate of Patek Philippe. Like many other watch house during WW1 their attention turned to instrument manafacture. Elgin, Longines and Waltham also made various compasses for the military.

Pre-WW1 period British military Verner prismatic marching compass. Phosphated brass body with sighting window to the front cover. Mother of Pearl dial, rotatable bezel, jewelled bearing and temporary and transit lock. Comes with Cavalry school style leather case. Compass size: 54mm x 20mm. £175 ($350)

19th Century boxwood pocket sundial. Mid Victorian card 'floating dial' sundial in 2-piece turned boxwood case with part of the original instructions still on the base. Size: 54mm diameter x 30mm. £SOLD

Boer War period Prismatic marching compass by Joseph Hicks of London. Dry paper dial, variable prism height and rear folding sight which activates the transit lock when down. Original leather case. c.1890. Compass 7cm diameter. £215 ($430)

Small late Victorian painted brass pocket compass by James Henry Steward of London. Dry paper dial with jewelled bearing, transit sliding lock and temporary push-pin lock. c.1890. 4cm diameter x 1.5cm tall. £125 ($250)

WW1 Period British army marching compass with jewelled bearing and lock. Brass body with matt black finish. NO IDENTIFYING MARKS! Dial is rough grain printed paper. Sighting hole has no facility to hold a glass. 4.5cm diameter. £75 ($150)

Curious WW1 British army marked compass in a solid brass watch case style unit. Jewelled bearing and paper dial with true / magnetic North declination marked at 6 degrees NW. 'Stem' should operate a lock on the bearing but has worn. 5cm diameter. £75 ($150)

Pre-WW1 British military hunter cased compass. Brass body with matt black finish, jewelled bearing and silvered dial. NO IDENTIFYING MARKS!! Possibly Cavalry Officers private purchase. Circa 1890-1900. 5cm diameter. £78 ($156)

Beautifully made piece with the True / Magnetic North declination marked as just over 23 degrees NW dating this to between 1787 and 1795. Brass locking pin has worn down about 0.5mm below the surface so no longer activates when the case is closed. -Easily restorable, but we prefer to sell things 'original and untouched' wherever possible. This certainly shouldn't detract you from a very fine piece indeed. Size: 7cm x 7cm x 2cm. £275 ($550)

WW11 Nickel cased hunter compass. No identifying marks whatsoever. Full plate dial and florescent paint characters. 4.5cm diameter. £50 ($100)

WW1 U.S. Brassed white metal compass by Waltham. Jewelled bearing, 4.5cm diameter. Case shows wear, but item functions happily. £85 ($170)

WW1 U.S. Military issue Longines-Wittnauer compass. Nickel case, jewelled bearing, 4.5cm diameter. £SOLD

WW1 British Military issue compass by C. Haseler of Birmingham 1916. Nickel case, full plate dial, jewelled bearing, 4.5cm diameter. Case hinge has a little wear but compass functions correctly. £85 ($170)

WW1 period U.S. 'Aurapole' compass. Made by the British firm of 'Short & Mason' who were now owned by the US company 'Taylors'. This is 1915 with the patent still pending. Nickel case, jewelled bearing, 4.5cm diameter. £85 ($170)

WW1 period U.S. 'Gydawl' compass. Made by the British firm of 'Short & Mason' who were now owned by the US company 'Taylors'. This is patented 1915. Nickel case, jewelled bearing, 4.5cm diameter. £85 ($170)

WW2 Mk 1. Russian army wrist compass with strap, dated 1940. Jewelled bearing and fitted sighting device. Diameter: 44mm, depth 9mm. £95 ($190)

WWII U.S. Military wrist compass by Waltham. Back marked 'R88-C-890'. Diameter 2.7cm. £95 ($190)