Pre World War 1 Nautical Compass by E.S.Ritchie

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...

Chinoiserie Decorated Bell Top Mantel Clock by Elliott Finely decorated bell top case with raised chinoiserie decoration depicting typical Chinese scenes on a black ground with gild...

E.S. Ritchie & Sons, Boston. Patinated brass nighthouse on solid lacquered teak plinth. Transport box for compass, included. Measures: H. 106 cm. Ø. 31 cm....

Vintage small nautical searchlight by General Electric, USA, circa 1950. For decorative display purposes only, not operational.