Compass, Surveyors, Potter

Compass, Surveyors, Potter
Compass, Surveyors, Potter

Description:

  • Object ID: ALSA 2011.01.01
  • Made by: Potter, Toronto, C.W.
  • Model: Unknown
  • Serial Number: Unknown
  • Date Made: circa 1860 to 1867 .
  • Approximate size: 41.5 cm (l) X 17.5 cm (w) X 10 cm
  • Accessories: Brass adapter is 13 cm long and about 4 cm in diameter. It consists of three parts: larger adaptor for coupling to the brass peg on the top of the tripod, a thumb screw for clamping the adaptor to the peg on the tripod and a ball / swivel for coupling to the base of the instrument.

    Two brass sights 23 cm (including thumb screw) X 3 cm X 4 cm. These sights can be attached to the ends of the compass and affixed by the thumb screws. Both sights are pointed at the ends and slotted. The fine wires are broken in one of them and bent in the other.

    One white envelope contains the 12.5 cm long compass needle.

    One white envelope contains a rusted hand forged nail (from the wooden case).

    White tissue paper is wrapped around a wooden splinter from the case.

    White tissue paper is wrapped around the remnants of a leather strap ( 37 cm X 3.5 cm).

    A FUJIFILM cardboard box contains some remnants of leather straps.

    Also included is a CD and a short history of the artifact on one sheet of paper..

  • Condition: poor

Commentary:

Also called a Circumferentor. Brass compass and accessories. Tripod for compass is object # is ALSA 2011.01.02

Brass compass 41.5 cm (l) X 17.5 cm (w) X 10 cm (h). has two level bubbles, compass circle 14.5 cm (diameter). two verniers, two locking screws, one tangent screw and one folding short sight. The glass that covers the compass is missing. The instrument is mounted on a brass adapter (see description below) and affixed with the locking screw.

The wooden case (45 cm X 23 cm X 11 cm) is in very rough condition. The corners of the case and the top are reinforced with steel strips. The case consists of two parts held together by two 4.5 cm brass hinges at the back and a two piece steel latch on the front. The inside of the case has various blocks and swivel latches for holding the compass and some of the accessories in place.

The tripod is 138 cm long and about 10 cm diameter at the base plate. The tripod consists of three wooden legs, each tipped with 5.5 cm long steel tips. The three legs are held together at the top by three brass screws that attach them to the brass base plate. The brass base plate is about 10 cm in diameter and 8 cm high. The top of the base plate has a brass peg (4 cm high and 3 cm in diameter) for connecting to the adapter..

Source of Object: Donated by Ronald A. Burwash.

Notes:

References: Visit article Circumferentors – Made in Canada before Confederation for additional information.

Description by: Updated by Ed Titanich, October 2, 2024.