A Francis Barker nickel-plated brass, hunter cased pocket compass, dating from c.1880 - 1910. It is signed on the dial ' F. Barker & Son, Makers London' and also 'Made in England'. This was one of Francis Barker's registered compass card designs. First introduced in the 1860s, it was used in many compasses during the Victorian era, including the equinoctial sundial carried by Dr Livingstone during his African expeditions. Barker often sold this compass unsigned to the retail trade, supplying many well-known companies, including Cary, Negretti & Zambra, and J. H. Steward.
This compass has a nickel-plated brass hunter case, aluminium compass card, English bar needle, and jewelled pivot. There is a lever operated transit lock, but this not working. The lid is opened by a push button at the bow. The case hinge is slightly damaged and a little delicate, but the lid still opens and closes well.
Further details of this Barker design can be found in Paul Crespel's book Trade Mark London (pp. 177, 182, 292), which is available to view as a PDF at trademarklondon.com, in Kornelia Takacs Compass Chronicles (Schiffer, 2010), and at compassmuseum.com.
Francis Barker & Son Ltd: were established in Clerkenwell, London in 1848, as a maker of compasses and scientific instruments. For the next 100 years the company was one of the most prominent British scientific instrument makers. Francis Barker was a master craftsman who produced a very wide range of compass designs over the years, supplying major retailers such as Negretti & Zambra, J. Lizars, C. W. Dixey, Casella, Dollond, and many others. Francis Barker died in 1875, but his company prospered until 1932, when it was taken over and became F. Barker & Son (1932). During WW2 the company was a major supplier to the British government, with their iconic Barker Mk III liquid prismatic service compass being standard issue to the armed forces. After WW2 the company changed hands several times, relocating to Edenbridge in Kent in 1961. The business is still based in Kent, and is now owned by Pyser Optics, who continue to produce the renowned Francis Barker M-73, widely acknowledged to be the world's finest prismatic compass.
Condition:
In good condition and finds North well. The glass, needle, and compass card are in good condition. The transit lock is present, but not working. The case is in good condition, with a few marks, and some wear to the nickel-plated finish. The lid hinge is slightly damaged and delicate, but the lid still opens and closes well.
Dimensions: 45mm diameter (65mm inc. loop)
