A very rare liquid-damped pocket compass, with a nickel-plated brass case in a leather outer case, dating from c.1890. There are no maker's marks, but this compass features the classic early Francis Barker dial design, with the red and black fleur de lys emblem at 'N' identical to the one used in the well-known Barker 'Unicus' hunter cased liquid filled compass. The brass case is similar to the 'Royal Engineers Liquid Surveying Compass' that appeared in Barker catalogues in the early 20th century - it is the same size and features the same Unicus type clamping ring. Barker produced several other types of liquid filled compass around this time - including Prismatic Surveying compasses, the Service Pattern Liquid prismatic, and various boating and yachting compasses.
The compass has a nickel plated brass case, early Victorian Barker dial with jewelled cap, and distinctive 11-screw seal clamping ring. The brass case is protected by a velvet lined leather outer case. There is a screw threaded filler plug at the bow for topping up the fluid. The early versions of the Barker Unicus (c.1890) had a 10-screw clamping ring, while those made after about 1906 used a ring secured by only 8 screws and had a smaller Dennison pocket watch type case. The use of an 11-screw ring in this compass suggests it dates from around the time of the earliest version of the Unicus.
No examples of this compass can be found in any maker's or retailers catalogues from the 1890s to the 1940s. But Barker produced many designs that never appeared in their own (or any other) catalogues - possibly because they were only produced for a very short time, or were made to special order.
The compass still has its original seal beneath the clamping ring, the fluid has recently been replaced, and there are no bubbles. As the rubber seal is more than 100 years old, bubbles may appear at some point in the future. If this does occur, they can easily be removed by topping up the fluid via the large screw threaded filler plug at the bow.
Further details of Barker liquid filled compasses can be found in Trade Mark London by Paul Crepsel, available to view as a PDF at trademarklondon.com.
Francis Barker & Son: 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 very good condition, full working order, and finds North very well. The nickel plated brass case is in very good condition, with signs of wear to the plating and some marks. The compass card and glass are in very good condition. There are no bubbles in the fluid. The leather case is in very good condition.
Dimensions : 55mm diameter (90mm inc. loop), leather case: 68mm diameter
