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1900s Brass Bakelite Magnetic Topographer Compass Surveyor Measurement Instrumen

$1,006.72
£751.93
€850
CA$1,381.25
A$1,543.32
CHF 807.33
MX$18,926.06
NOK 10,316.12
SEK 9,782.41
DKK 6,470.89
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About the Item

Magnetic topographer compass from the early 1900s, brass and bakelite base; instrument consisting of a magnetized needle free to rotate on a horizontal plane, marking with its tip the direction of magnetic north, four-wind rose complete with goniometric circle, finish line, and 5 cm ruler. Good condition, fully functional. The Greeks and the Romans didn’t know the possibility to use magnetic fields for orient, but this possibility probably was known by the Chinese people: about in 2600 B.C. Hoang-Ti the emperor won Tchi-Yeou the prince using a magic cart, the See-Nan (cart indicating the South), finding the way of escape of the enemy that has been covered by smoke: on this cart there was a rotating human shaped figure with an arm stretched indicating the South (obviously indicating the North too, but the South was the most important cardinal point for the Chinese people). The Chinese people used magnetic fields also for spectacles: throwing magnetized arrows like dice, they indicated south like a magic, amazing the public.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1 in (2.54 cm)Width: 3.6 in (9.15 cm)Depth: 2.8 in (7.12 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1900-1909
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1900
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Milan, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1020226697752

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