Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21

Compass by hand magnetic sensing, signed Henry Browne & Son early 1900s

$1,719.18
£1,280.15
€1,450
CA$2,362.24
A$2,643.79
CHF 1,379.86
MX$32,240.65
NOK 17,660.29
SEK 16,717.73
DKK 11,037.58
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Compass by hand magnetic sensing, signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel Made in England, No. 6162/B Barking & London early 1900s Height 25 cm - inches 9.8, compass diameter 10.5 cm - inches 4.1. Very Good Condition. Complete with support base made of custom-made brass and steel. The last photo is the gift box. It is an ancient compass of small size, brass with wooden handle typically used in recreational sailing. It’s equipped with an optical prism sighting system to magnify the degrees placed on the eight-wind rose graduated so as to make it possible to measure the angle between the line of sight and the north indicated by the magnetic needle. The compass is consisting of a cylindrical-shaped brass vessel called a mortar, on which fund is fixed a hard metal stem, called the sensing element, on which the suitably constrained wind rose is placed so that zero coincides with the magnetic polarity. To minimize friction, the mortar was filled with low-freezing point liquid, also having the purpose of quickly damping any oscillations of the complex and closed at the top by a strong protective glass and complete with a wooden handle. Sestrel is a registered trademark of Henry Browne & son, which was an important English firm producing high quality compasses, inclinometers, sextants, etc. founded in the second half of the 19th century. The brand is a name that results from the initials of the qualities that the brand itself embodies: SEnsitive -STeady - RELiable. Indeed, Sestrel is a name synonymous with quality and precision, as evidenced by the number of instruments with that mark, vintage and ancient, still in use today. The invention of the compass is surrounded by a legendary aura. It is known, however, that the discovery of magnetite, a material capable of attracting iron, occurred in Magnesia, a city in Asia Minor from which this stone takes its name. The first hints of the use in Europe of scientific instruments that harnessed magnetic force for navigational orientation date back to the late 12th century, mainly due to knowledge brought by Arab merchants and navigators.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 9.8 in (24.9 cm)Diameter: 4.1 in (10.42 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
    1900-1909
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1900
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Milan, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1020242194362

More From This Seller

View All
Nautical survey magnetic compass signed Elliott Bros London late 1800s
Located in Milan, IT
Rare magnetic nautical surveying compass, brass, late 19th century signed Elliott Bros London complete with leather case. This is a small compass, 7 cm diameter, typically used in re...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Nautical compass on cardan joint signed La Filotecnica Milano from the early 1900s
Located in Milan, IT
Nautical compass on gimbal made by Filotecnica Milano of the early 1900s. The compass consists of a copper and glass vessel; at the bottom, a metal stem is attached to which rests t...
Category

Vintage 1910s Nautical Objects

Materials

Copper

Nautical magnetic compass, signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Barking & London 1880
Located in Milan, IT
Nautical magnetic compass, signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Barking & London Sestrel Mark from the second half of the 19th century. Bon état. Housed in its original wooden box and mou...
Category

Antique 1870s Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Nautical magnetic compass, signed by Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel 1942.
Located in Milan, IT
Nautical 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

Materials

Brass

Bussola a liquido su giunto cardanico e montata su tavola di legno di mogano
Located in Milan, IT
Bussola a liquido su giunto cardanico e montata su tavola di legno di mogano sagomata. Manifattura inglese della fine del XIX sec. La bussola è costituita da un recipiente di forma c...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Brass nautical compass signed DIRIGO Eugen M. Sherman Seattle USA 1920
Located in Milan, IT
Nautical compass on gimbal signed DIRIGO Eugen M. Sherman Seattle USA 1920s, mounted on custom-made walnut and brass board. Eight-twenty rose complete with protractor circle. The com...
Category

Vintage 1920s Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

You May Also Like

Antique English marine chronometer J. Mc Cabe No. 280 - 8 days charge 19th century
By James McCabe
Located in Milano, IT
Antique English marine chronometer with mahogany outer case and brass elements. The wooden case has a double opening, one to access the chronometer movement and the second, top, with...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century Ship's Binnacle
Located in Norwell, MA
Ship's binnacle on wood pedestal. The binnacle itself is a brass bowl with top that holds 2 oil lamps with porcelain burners. Iron compensating balls are mounted to brass brackets. T...
Category

Vintage 1950s North American Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Finest Ships Binnacle From John Hand
Located in Norwell, MA
High quality nineteenth century ships binnacle from John Hand and Sons. Mushroom top with oil burners. Brass covers on the iron compensating balls. Brass brackets hold the balls. Bra...
Category

Vintage 1910s North American Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Yacht Binnacle of the Highest Quality
Located in Norwell, MA
Skylight Yacht Binnacle from the 19th century. Exceptional binnacle built to a very high standard. Very heavy and sturdy with a beautiful desig...
Category

Antique 1880s North American Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Early Twentieth Century Three Way Combination with Bullesye Lenses
Located in Norwell, MA
Antique ships lantern with three bulleye lenses red, blue, and clear. The lantern hughly polished and lacquered. There is a vented turret with carry ring. No burner inside. Choice ma...
Category

Vintage 1910s North American Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

20th Century, Made in Italy
By Zanetto
Located in Milano, IT
Raffinato vaso in ottone lavorato e battuto a mano dalla ditta Zanetto di Padova . E in perfetto stato e su qualità eccelsa, visto che la ditta Zanetto si occupava e si occupa di a...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Other Vases

Materials

Brass