1 of 6

Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird Giant Ship's Threaded Nautical Compass

$2,500List Price

About the Item

A very important and rare English dry card compass made by Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird is presented as a display. It is based on a design of a light weight dry compass card invented by Sir William Thomson, later Lord Kelvin of Largs. The huge compass is housed in a large bowl with bronze bezel, brass upper structure and lead crystal lower containment which holds oil as a ballast to keep the compass card level. The crystal is acid etched with the original maker's name, Kelvin & James White. The later was Kelvin's original partner from the time he began his first experiments with the magnetic compass which made him famous.

This compass is a larger version of the one that was from the Clipper Ship Flying Cloud that was offered at auction by Bonham's Nautical Auction in 2004 for $8000.00

It is only the second compass of this type that we have ever seen that was made to the Thomson design by anyone other than James White of Kelvin-White or Henry Hughes & Company, which was the last Kelvin organization before it became Kevin-Hughes. However, the design of this compass of Kelvin, Bottomley & Bard dates back to about 1903, and was likely made around 1913, well before Kelvin- Hughes was formally merged into Henry Hughes & Sons in 1947, and much later into Smith Industries. We suggest that it was made in 1913. (See company's history below)

THE CARD: The card is made from beautifully engraved paper. It is engraved with an elaborate Fleur des Lis at the North point with the number 958 on its side. The paper is cut, approximately every 20 degrees to allow for it to be suspended from the center pivot point by silk threads which are attached to six magnetized needles.

The compass rose shows the eight cardinal points and is further divided to 1/16 points and then to 32. On the outer perimeter are degrees that are graduated from 0 to 90 degrees for each quadrant. It measures 6 inches in diameter and has a finely made aluminum center cap which was a very expensive metal at that time.

This complex arrangement was supposed to reduce drag and make the compass less sensitive to the pitching, rolling and course variations of a ship.

COMPASS BOWL: The bowl is made from a bronze containment at the top with a lead crystal bowl below. It is mounted to a contemporary Mahogany display stand.

There is a lubber's line with arrow that marks the course to which the ship's head is pointing. There is a bronze bezel with two holders that accept the pinions of the compass bowl and serve as the means of attaching it to the display stand. There is no box with this compass.

Diameter of bowl 11 1/4" Diameter of card 10"
Depth of bowl 7"

BASE: 14? L x 10? W x 3/4? T Weight complete 18.5 Lbs

Dimensions:
Height: 6 in (15.24 cm)Diameter: 11 in (27.94 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Glass
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Ca 1900
Condition:
The compass card, bowl, bezel are in exceptionally good condition considering its age. The compass operates accurately.<br /> Copyright 2012 Land and Sea Collection. All Rights Reserved.
Seller Location:
Palm City, FL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: U120217925726

Mid-20th Century American Nautical Objects

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Large Nautical Maritime Brass Glass Ship's Hourglass Display Model Timer

$1,440 Sale Price

20% Off

H 19.5 in W 7.25 in D 7.25 in

Rosewood Ship's Navigators Octant

Located in Norwell, MA

Ship's octant with rosewood frame, brass filters, mirror and peepsight. Unsigned. Overall dimensions: 3" x 13" x 16". 2 pounds.

Category

Antique 1840s Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Rosewood Ship's Navigators Octant

$1,695

H 16 in W 13 in D 3 in

Aluminum Ships Binnacle Compass

Located in Norwell, MA

Polished aluminum gimbaled lifeboat compass with carry handle and two sidelights. Nautical relic that is probably Russian. Weight is 16 pounds. 10" H x 11" L x 11" D. Circa 1975.

Category

Vintage 1970s Russian Nautical Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Aluminum Ships Binnacle Compass

$399

H 10 in W 11 in D 11 in

Solid Brass U.S. Navy Ship's Binnacle

Located in Norwell, MA

Solid brass battleship binnacle with gimballed compass. Iron compensating balls are mounted to brackets. Quite heavy. from the US Navy. Torpedo base. Great polish job. Overall dim...

Category

Vintage 1940s Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Solid Brass U.S. Navy Ship's Binnacle

$11,000

H 53 in W 35 in D 19 in

Ship's Binnacle by Baker Lyman of New Orleans, Louisiana

Located in Norwell, MA

Ship's binnacle with maker's plate from Baker Lyman Company of New Orleans, Louisiana. Wonderfully restored binnacle with gimballed compass and interior lighting. Overall dimensio...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Nautical Objects

Materials

Metal

Ship's Binnacle by Baker Lyman of New Orleans, Louisiana

$5,995

H 55 in W 28 in D 20 in

Ship's Engine Order Telegraph by Charles Cory and Son of New York

Located in Norwell, MA

Solid brass ship's engine order telegraph with faceplates from Charles Cory and Son Patentees, New York. Smaller size than most, meticulously polished and lacquered. Overall Dime...

Category

Vintage 1920s American Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Ship's Engine Order Telegraph by Charles Cory and Son of New York

$4,295

H 30 in Dm 10 in

Vintage wooden and brass ship's compass with side weights, Italy

Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)

Vintage old ship's compass, in solid wood and gilded brass, dome with internal compass and colored side weights, very fascinating navigation work tool, from Italy from the 1900s. max...

Category

20th Century Italian Nautical Objects

Materials

Walnut

Vintage wooden and brass ship's compass with side weights, Italy

$4,624 Sale Price

20% Off

H 59.06 in W 35.44 in D 23.63 in

Aluminum Ship's Porthole

Located in Norwell, MA

Authentic polished aluminum ship's porthole fitted with glass. Door is hinged and fitted with three dogbolts. The highly polished porthole is ready for display. Overall dimensions...

Category

Vintage 1980s Nautical Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Aluminum Ship's Porthole

$595

H 2 in Dm 20 in

Aluminum Ship's Porthole

Located in Norwell, MA

Authentic polished aluminum ship's porthole fitted with a glass window. Door is hinged and fitted with two dogbolts. Highly polished porthole. Overall dimensions: glass diameter:...

Category

Vintage 1950s Nautical Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Aluminum Ship's Porthole

$495

H 2 in Dm 17 in

Aluminum Ship's Porthole Mirror

Located in Norwell, MA

Authentic polished aluminum ship's porthole fitted with a glass window. Door is hinged and fitted with three dogbolts. The highly polished porthole is ready for display. Overall d...

Category