Author Topic: Very old-looking compass.. Need help.  (Read 1698 times)

bloodben

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Very old-looking compass.. Need help.
« on: May 28, 2015, 03:05:03 pm »
Hello. I just found an old compass in my grandfathers basement. I wonder if any of you guys have an idea of how old the compass is and how much or what parts I need to put it together.

I will post pictures. To me it looks like it's missing the needle and one ironcore.

Help will be much appriciated.

OVER:






UNDERSIDE:



INSIDE:




fancypants

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Re: Very old-looking compass.. Need help.
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2015, 04:25:29 pm »
Your item appears to be the main parts of a liquid-filled compass , prob for nautical purposes .

Looks like it may be from around the turn of the century , to me .

The main face of your compass would be the indicator for magnetic direction , and would not have had a needle attached (no need to look for that part !) . It would have been 'suspended' in liquid to make the compass quite a bit more steady in waves , turns & movements , augmented by (usually) being mounted in/on a gimbal/gimbal 'box' .
A non-liquid filled (air of gas) compass 'dances' about with even slight movements !

Up here in the Pacific N.W. , we see bunches of broken nautical compasses , the cases are often made from non-magnetic metals & some are quite heavy ... these usually don't do too well at auctions around here , except for those from historic ships/planes & etc .
Working & intact compasses that are antique do fetch some fair prices , however , in the Pac N.W. (USA) !
« Last Edit: May 28, 2015, 04:35:03 pm by fancypants »
" Methinks me the 'mental' in sentimental .... "

frogpatch

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Re: Very old-looking compass.. Need help.
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2015, 04:26:24 am »
It is Norwegian made by N. Svabo in Alesund Norway. There are people with that name living there today.

Ipcress

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Re: Very old-looking compass.. Need help.
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2015, 10:13:48 am »
N. Svabø. Might be late 19th / very early 20th.

A similar one here ( the 1967 date is for when it was given to the museum )
http://digitaltmuseum.no/021025598880

Contact these people https://www.blomqvist.no/eng/

There's a good market for Norwegian and Swedish antiques.