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Francis Barker Singer's Patent Compass c.1875

Francis Barker Singer's Patent Compass c.1875

Price $503.00 Sale

A Francis Barker & Son Singer's Patent pocket compass, dating from c.1875. The compass has a jewelled pivot, brass box case, transit lock, and a push-fit lid. The paper compass card is hand drawn in the classic Singer's design, and marked with Barker's post-1875 'Trade Mark London' logo (with the letter 'S' the wrong way round, denoting that it was made after Francis Barker's death in 1875). The use of the 'Singer's Patent' wording on the card suggests that it was made fairly soon after the patent expired in 1868. Hand drawn cards of this type were rarely made after about 1890, when they were replaced by printed versions.

This is an unusually large example of a Singer's Patent, at 65mm diameter - most brass box Singer's were smaller, at around 45mm.

Francis Barker & Son: were established in London in 1848, as a maker of compasses and scientific instruments. Francis Barker produced a very wide range of compass designs over the years, supplying major retailers such as Negretti & Zambra, J. Lizars, C. W. Dixey, Dollond, and many others. The company prospered until 1932, when it was taken over and became F. Barker & Son (1932). After WW2 the company changed hands several times and is now part of Pyser Optics of Edenbridge in Kent. They continue to produce the renowned Barker M-73, widely acknowledged to be the world's finest prismatic compass. Further details of Barker compasses can be found in Paul Crepsel's excellent book Trade Mark London, available to view as a PDF online at trademarklondon.com.

Samuel Berry Singer (1796 - c.1875) was a master mariner from Southampton when he patented his unique design in July 1861. Its high contrast design was intended to be much easier to read in low light than conventional compasses of the time. His design was widely adopted by scientific instrument makers, but Singer himself did not benefit greatly from his invention, the patent lapsed in 1868, and he ended his days living in poverty in Kincardine on the Firth of Forth. Versions of his design continued to be made until the First World War.

Condition:

In very good condition and full working order. The compass finds North well. The compass card and glass are in very good condition. The case and lid are in very good condition.

Dimensions: 68mm x 18mm