Items Similar to Pre World War I Nautical Compass by E.S.Ritchie
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11
Pre World War I Nautical Compass by E.S.Ritchie
About the Item
Pre World War I Nautical Compass by E.S.Ritchie
Nautical compass mounted by a brass gimbal into a copper brass bound case with sloping glazed aperture with heavily bevelled glass. Flat brass bezel with five holding screws signed ‘E.S.Ritchie’ and numbered 5779. Side opening compartment for a lighted wick with drawer beneath.
The compass is mounted in a heavy painted brass bowl with very fine copper pivot supporting the floating direction card. A diaphragm is located in the base of the bowl for temperature compensation. c.1910
E.S.Ritchie founded the business in 1850 to manufacture mechanical, electrical and scientific instruments. In 1857 he turned his attention to navigational instruments and begun making marine bearing compasses for the U.S.Navy before the American civil war. At the time the British admiralty dry mounted nautical compasses were considered by all navies and commercial shipping companies as the highest technological standard of the day, however, in 1860 Ritchie had received a US patent for the first successful and practical liquid-filled marine compass for general use. A major step forward in the technology of the compass. With the damping provided by the liquid, together with gimbal mounting, the floating card of the Ritchie compass remained relatively stable even when a ships deck pitched and rolled in heavy seas. His third patent of 1863 introduced a lightweight floating card of nearly the same specific gravity as the liquid, an air tight metallic case and an elastic chamber mounted in the bowl that served as a diaphragm, compensating for the temperature changes and resultant unequal expansion of the liquid in the bowl. Ritchie liquid filled compasses soon became the US Navy standard and forAmerican merchant mariners. He also invented an improved theodolite which was adopted by the U.S.Navy for measuring harbours and port entrances. The firm became E.S.Ritchie & Son following his death in 1895, it continues to operate to this day and is now located in Pembroke, Massachosetts. The company is known for the fine quality of it’s instruments and are to be found in ships throughout the world.
- Dimensions:Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 7 in (17.78 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:1910-1919
- Date of Manufacture:1910
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. very good condition.
- Seller Location:Norwich, GB
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
1stDibs seller since 2018
58 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
Associations
The British Antique Dealers' AssociationLAPADA - The Association of Arts & Antiques Dealers
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Norwich, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
More From This SellerView All
- Pre World War 1 Nautical Compass by E.S.RitchieBy E.S. Ritchie & CoLocated in Norwich, GBPre World War I Nautical Compass by E.S.Ritchie Nautical compass mounted by a brass gimbal into a copper brass bound case with sloping glazed aperture with heavily bevelled glass. Flat brass bezel with five holding screws signed ‘E.S.Ritchie’ and numbered 5779. Side opening compartment for a lighted wick with drawer beneath. The compass is mounted in a heavy painted brass bowl with very fine copper pivot supporting the floating direction card. A diaphragm is located in the base of the bowl for temperature compensation. E.S.Ritchie founded the business in 1850 to manufacture mechanical, electrical and scientific instruments. In 1857 he turned his attention to navigational instruments and begun making marine bearing compasses for the U.S.Navy before the American civil war. At the time the British admiralty dry mounted nautical compasses were considered by all navies and commercial shipping companies as the highest technological standard of the day, however, in 1860 Ritchie had received a US patent for the first successful and practical liquid-filled marine compass...Category
Antique Early 1900s Nautical Objects
MaterialsCopper
- Important Georgian Mahogany Mercury Stick Barometer by Stott, DumfriesLocated in Norwich, GBFine Georgian mahogany bow fronted stick barometer. Bow fronted glass set in front of the silvered register plate with sliding vernier controlled by an ivory turned knob. Concertina ...Category
Antique 1790s English Georgian Scientific Instruments
MaterialsMahogany
- George III Mahogany Mercury Stick Barometer by Henry Andrews, RoystonLocated in Norwich, GBGeorge III stick barometer in a finely figured mahogany case with canted corners and architectural pediment surmounted by a central ivory finial. Exposed mercury tube with bulb ciste...Category
Antique Early 1800s English George III Scientific Instruments
MaterialsMahogany
- Two Day Marine Chronometer by Whyte, Thompson & Co, Glasgow and South SheildsLocated in Norwich, GBA fine two day Marine Chronometer By Whyte, Thompson & Co, Glasgow & South Shields Two day marine chromometer by Whyte, Thompson & Co housed in a beautiful three tier mahogany brass bound box...Category
Antique 1780s English Nautical Objects
MaterialsBrass
- Oak Cased Barograph by Negretti & Zambra, LondonBy Negretti & ZambraLocated in Norwich, GBNegretti & Zambra Fine Edwardian oak cased barograph with bevelled glass panels and central chart drawer. Ten vacuum chambers linking ...Category
Vintage 1920s English Scientific Instruments
MaterialsOak
- Brass Surveyors Level by Troughton & Simms, LondonBy Troughton & Simms LondonLocated in Norwich, GBBrass Surveyors Level by Troughton & Simms, London Sixteen inch extending telescope with original lacquer finish and spirit level. The compass ha...Category
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Scientific Instruments
MaterialsBrass
You May Also Like
- War of the WorldsLocated in London, GBOriginal British front of house card for The War of the Worlds 1953 it was used inside the foyer of the cinema. This artwork featuring the invading spacecraft is the best card from the set of 8. The film is one of the most famous science fiction films ever made. It was directed by Byron Haskin and starred Gene Barry, Ann Robinson...Category
Vintage 1950s British Posters
MaterialsPaint
- "The Second World War, " by Winston ChurchillBy Houghton Mifflin & Co.Located in Austin, TXThe Second World War by Winston Churchill from Houghton-Mifflin Company, Boston. A vintage edition of Winston Churchill's six-volume memoir, The Second World War, for which he was a...Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Books
MaterialsPaper
- American Mahogany Wood Antique Magnetic Binnacle Nautical Compass, circa 1896Located in Milan, ITRare mahogany wood binnacle compass. Inside there is a liquid compass mounted on a universal joint signed D. Baker Melrose Mass Pat. 22 Sept 1896 and marketed by the Chas Company. C....Category
Antique 1890s American Scientific Instruments
MaterialsBrass
- T. Cooke London Brass Prismatic Nautical Maritime Navigation CompassBy T. Cooke & Sons Ltd.Located in Dayton, OHVintage T. Cooke of London prismatic compass. Brass case with pierced sight line in the lid, folding prism, metallic gold tone face, and short stand able to be screwed onto a tripod ...Category
Mid-20th Century Nautical Objects
MaterialsBrass
- World War I US Navy Ships BinnacleLocated in Norwell, MASpectacular solid brass ships binnacle by Keuffel and Esser Company of New York in 1918. Builders plate is marked type VII no 1200, Bureau of Navigation, US Navy...Category
Vintage 1910s North American Nautical Objects
MaterialsBrass
- Nautical magnetic compass, signed by Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel 1942.Located in Milan, ITNautical magnetic compass, signed by Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel 1942, Barking & London 1942. Good condition, slight abrasion on compass rose. The compass is mounted on eboni...Category
Vintage 1940s Nautical Objects
MaterialsBrass