$1,175
Eames's Improved Patent Compass, with brass needle ring and 5 1/2-inch diameter 32-point compass card divided 0-90 in four quadrants, fleur-de-lis at North , scrolls at the East and central medallion with printed credit Eames's Improved Patent Compass, Newry, Mc. , No. 14 , two inset vials, blued-steel needle engraved N and S on brass lifting-arm, and mahogany body with rectangular 11 3/4-inch lg. sighting tube rotating with pointer around a brass elevation with punched scale 0-90-0 , wd. 7 1/2 in. Note: James Eames of Newry, Maine, was granted an American patent on 11 February 1835 for a surveying instrument (an early theodolite) that combined the functions of a compass, protractor and sighting tube for surveying hilly terrain.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2005-05-03
