frank7 Posted 27 September , 2010 Share Posted 27 September , 2010 Hi , Did officers have to buy there own compass's?or where they all issued! I have one with an inscription on the back from his mother, his name was only given as OL? It also has in the centre;F-L and a number;(108975) Will this give me any information? All help welcome....... Frank:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 27 September , 2010 Share Posted 27 September , 2010 There were both, I believe. I have a Cruchon & Emons Verners' Pattern VII dating from 1916 with a Broad Arrow bearing 2 cuts indicating 'sold out of service', so this one was presumably issued. The major London instrument houses like J H Steward, Negretti & Zambra, as well as specialists like Francis Barker, were all putting out quality pocket and sighting compasses for private purchase as well. The usefulness of all of them was compromised by the lack of an agreed standard on the magnetic variation in France, IIRC until sometime in 1917. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17107BM Posted 27 September , 2010 Share Posted 27 September , 2010 Hi , Did officers have to buy there own compass's?or where they all issued! I have one with an inscription on the back from his mother, his name was only given as OL? It also has in the centre;F-L and a number;(108975) Will this give me any information? All help welcome....... Frank:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17107BM Posted 27 September , 2010 Share Posted 27 September , 2010 Yes' there does seem to be a mix of compass issue, and privately obtained. But how did the latter get the Broad Arrow stamp? I have a DENNISON, BIRMINGHAM, stamped with the arrow and dated 1917. V1 24848 Inside i find on the cover..130873 and an 'M' below. Are these items optional kit for officer? When closed it's the size of a fob watch of the time. No pun intended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 27 September , 2010 Share Posted 27 September , 2010 Frank I have an advert for Compasses which is located HERE which suggests Officers could purchase high quality items. TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank7 Posted 28 September , 2010 Author Share Posted 28 September , 2010 Hi Guys, Thanks for your response! Yes my compass has also a broad arrow mark above the letters F-L / with the reg; number & 1917,but connot seem to find any makers mark? The inscription on the back; (For my darling OL so that he may always find his way safe home, Mum.) Wonder weather he got back home? Interesting!! Thought the reg;number may of thrown some light on whitch unit it was issued to? Along with the compass came a 1918 leather case witha makers name of C&R **INSLEY. And scratched on the leather;Reg No? (96015) H.R FANN*** or FINN***. At the bottom of that the word ; HASTINGS ? Any help welcome.. P.S Thanks Tew for info ;Interesting reading! Thanks Frank.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 2 October , 2010 Share Posted 2 October , 2010 Hi Guys, Thanks for your response! Yes my compass has also a broad arrow mark above the letters F-L / with the reg; number & 1917,but connot seem to find any makers mark? The inscription on the back; (For my darling OL so that he may always find his way safe home, Mum.) Wonder weather he got back home? Interesting!! Thought the reg;number may of thrown some light on whitch unit it was issued to? Along with the compass came a 1918 leather case witha makers name of C&R **INSLEY. And scratched on the leather;Reg No? (96015) H.R FANN*** or FINN***. At the bottom of that the word ; HASTINGS ? Any help welcome.. P.S Thanks Tew for info ;Interesting reading! Thanks Frank.. Had the Broad Arrow been struck out, or opposed by another, indicating 'sold out of service'? The old Verners dry compasses were still popular in WW2 because they were more compact, lighter and simpler than the later liquid-damped compasses, even though they took more patience and skill to use accurately. I was wondering if the inscription might suggest a WW1 surplus item bought and passed privately to a WW2 soldier? Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank7 Posted 2 October , 2010 Author Share Posted 2 October , 2010 Hi MikB, Quite possible what you say,Is there any way of finding out weather or not its actually ww1 origianal by the stamped number on the back or not.? The droad arrow is stuck into the centre!! the compass is dated 1917,and the no is 108978! Regards..Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 2 October , 2010 Share Posted 2 October , 2010 Hi MikB, Quite possible what you say,Is there any way of finding out weather or not its actually ww1 origianal by the stamped number on the back or not.? The droad arrow is stuck into the centre!! the compass is dated 1917,and the no is 108978! Regards..Frank I think you can be confident from the date and the broad arrow that it's WW1 issue. Establishing its individual issue history (what dates and which unit etc.) would be at least as difficult as for a rifle - ie. effectively impossible unless you get inordinately lucky in coming across the right document. Do take care of the instrument and take note of what this site says in relation to its possible radium content:- http://www.trademarklondon.com/compass_repairs_11.html I'm not really sure how seriously to take his view of the risks, but you should be aware. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank7 Posted 2 October , 2010 Author Share Posted 2 October , 2010 MikB, I would like to take this oppotunity in thanking you for a well thought out question i asked earlyier! Fortunately i have come across both Radium and Geiger counters and wouldnt had a second thought about radiation on a commpass. Thank for all the interesting information,also i hope anyone else reading this will take it very serious when restoring an item. Best Regards...Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 21 November , 2013 Share Posted 21 November , 2013 This seems a good thread to report that I have just been given a compass in a leather case the details are: The compass, Prismatic type, marked 'Verner's Patent VIII, either side of the prism mounting, on the (for want of the proper term) lid, not liquid filled, a nicely engraved? card graduated with two scales. The inner 0 to 360 degrees at 5 degree intervals numbered every 10 degress clockwise and an outer scale graduated 0 to 180 degrees at 1 degree intervals and numbered anticlockwise as a back bearing i.e 0 degrees on the inner scale aligned with 180 degrees on the outer. The prism view is of the outer scale. Therefore the outer scale for position finding by resection (if my memory is correct, Cert A in the JTC was along time ago) and the inner as a marching direction indication. It is marked F-L on the bottom surface, No 91869 and the date 1917. There is a poorly stamped broad arrow, upside down, near the number. It is in good condition, the only apparant faults are one of the two screws forming the anchorage and pivot for the lanyard swivel is missing and the luminous mark on the underside of the rotating bezel has largely been lost. The leather case with leather sling (nearly 60 inches) is in good condition, stitching sound. It is stamped Wolsky &Co London 1918 on one side and the other is marked Sgt Horsfield 16th LF ( see my posts in soldiers and units). From this tread the type seem quite common. I will post a picture if that would be useful. May I pose a few questions, I would welcome any information on the manufacturer (FL) and, I suppose the company that sold the case (Wolsky and Co) How should I look after it, I am inclinded to clean the compass with a soft cloth and, perhaps, WD 40 or 3 in 1 oil, and to treat the leather with saddle soap and ordinary shoes polish (Kiwi) Where I might obtain a replacement screw, I might remove the existing screw and seek a match at a clockmaker, optician or antique dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 21 November , 2013 Share Posted 21 November , 2013 I think F-L stands for French Ltd. There's another of their Mk.VIIIs shown here:- http://tedbrink1.webs.com/gb6.htm Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 22 November , 2013 Share Posted 22 November , 2013 The very same. Mine has two groves on the portion shown in red in the picture. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 22 November , 2013 Share Posted 22 November , 2013 On my Cruchon & Emons, the 2 grooves just allow the brass lanyard ring to rest folded flat against the underside. I'm assuming the red rubber ring was to allow the compass to rest on something without metal-to-metal contact - perhaps the rubber was originally softer, as a non-slip surface. It's still at least as accurate a sighting compass as my modern Silva prismatic. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 23 November , 2013 Share Posted 23 November , 2013 MikB - Thanks for that. The purpose of the groves is obvious; once it is pointed out. Curiously on mine one grove is much deeper and is made across the wholewidth of the raised part of the bottom of the case; the other grove is shallow and only just crosses the raised portion. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 23 November , 2013 Share Posted 23 November , 2013 I seem to be making a meal of this. However, another question - what is the material used for the compass card? It has a vaguely mother of pearl appearance and I suppose would be non magnetic. It has one screw near the 'jewelled' pivot which, again, I suppose, secures the iron or other magnet. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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