Beautiful Circa 1830s Lewis Michael Surveyors Compass

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Beautiful Circa 1830s Lewis Michael Surveyors Compass

About the Item

In an article published in The American Surveyor (Winter 2007), Jeff Lock, noted Colonial Instrument Collector and Repair Person, said it best:   "When I first laid my eyes on the Lewis Michael compass illustrated here, words could not describe the emotions I felt. I was looking at one of the most beautifully engraved examples of the 18th-century maker’s art. I have been collecting colonial antiques for decades and had never seen an example of craftsmanship that touched me on a personal level as did this instrument."  The Lewis Michael compass offered here is nearly identical to the one featured in Lock's article. To my eye, this compass qualifies as a work of art. Michael Lewis honed his skills working for Benjamin Rittenhouse as an apprentice in the mid-1780s. If you look thru the Benjamin Rittenhouse compasses, you will see some that show a strong resemblance to the compass offered here.   Interestingly, Lewis Michael made instruments over at least 4 decades, and he rarely changed the look of his compasses. This compass was likely made around 1830 when Lewis Michael lived in Somerset.  The compass features a 14 inch mainplate with a 5.5 inch compass needle. The compass has a nicely functioning chain counter and a functioning level in the compass face.   The compass comes with a beautiful wood box - likely the original.   This compass is a wonderful example of a colonial era compass made by one of the most skilled engravers. Biographical info about Lewis Michael: Lewis Michael was born in 1762 in Germany. In 1786 after completing apprenticeship with Benjamin Rittenhouse he is listed as a journeyman in Worchester Township Montgomery County PA . From 1787 to about 1798 he had shop in Yorktown York County PA and was making surveyors compasses under his own name. Three compasses are known marked York or Yorktown. About 1800 he moved to Baltimore where he and his brother were in business together as dry goods merchants. By 1815 he was back in Pennsylvania at McConnellsburg working as a clockmaker. No compasses are known with this address. In about 1827 he moved to Somerset Boro where he is listed as a silver smith or watchmaker. Four compasses are known marked Somerset. He remained in Somerset Boro until 1850 when he moved to Shade Twp to live with his daughter. He died there in 1852. Like all nearly 200 year old surveying instruments, this compass has a few flaws worth noting. First, one of the sight vanes is bent very slight. Hardly noticeable. I suspect this compass took a tumble at some point. Second, the female socket on the underside of the compass has a crack going up the lenth of the socket. Again, hardly noticeable. Third, the as you can see from the pics, the compass is missing several original screws from the underside of the compass. The missing screws do not impact the overall appearance of the compass however.

Dimensions:
Height: 3 in (7.62 cm)Width: 6 in (15.24 cm)Depth: 14 in (35.56 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Brass
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1830-1839
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1830s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Placerville, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU9222236663502