A Francis Barker nickel-plated brass, hunter cased pocket compass, dating from c.1880 - 1910. Although there are no maker's marks, 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 sold most of their compasses unsigned to the retail trade, supplying their products to many well-known companies, including Cary, Negretti & Zambra, and J. H. Steward.
Most examples of this Barker design had either an aluminium or a paper compass card. This compass is a rare and unusual variant, having an enamel compass card. The compass also has an English bar needle, jewelled pivot, and transit lock lever which lifts and locks the needle when the lid is closed. The lid is opened by a push button at the bow. 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 very good condition and full working order, the compass finds North well. The glass, needle, and compass card are in very good condition. The transit lock is working and locks the needle when the lid is closed. The case is in very good condition, with a few marks, and most of the original nickel-plated finish having been worn or polished off the exterior.
Dimensions: 45mm diameter (60mm inc. loop)
