A rare version of the Francis Barker Artillery or Surveyors Prismatic Compass, dating from c.1875. The compass is signed on the card below the fleur de Lys at the North point with the distinctive 'Trade Mark London' Barker logo. The reversed letter 'S' that forms part of the logo dates the compass to sometime after 1875, as this style of logo was adopted after Francis Barker's death in 1875. The dial features a very unusual combination of the standard aluminium ring and the classic Barker maritime type paper card design.
The compass has a bronzed brass case with a push-fit lid, aluminium ring and paper dial, jewelled pivot, folding prism and vane sights, azimuth mirror, and red and green filters. There is a transit lock which lifts and locks the card when the sighting vane is folded, and a manual push-button brake.
This type of compass design originated in the second half of the 19th century, and was a development of the Schmalcalder Patent types of the early 1800's. In 1861 W. F. Stanley patented a number of improvements in the use of aluminium in the manufacture of mathematical and scientific instruments, and he was one of the first to use the cutaway aluminium ring dial. Stanley's Surveying and Levelling Instruments (1895) included a description of this type of compass, and it was listed in many scientific instrument catalogues, including the J. H. Steward Military Instruments Catalogue (1901), the W. F. Stanley Catalogue (1912), and the Francis Barker catalogues of 1909 and 1926. The Barker catalogues described this type of compass as a 'Brass bronzed prismatic compass, with aluminium ring and card dial, Agate cap and stop'. The red and green filters or 'Azimuth Glasses' were optional extras.
Francis Barker & Son Ltd: 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 and full working order. The compass finds North well. The brass case has some wear to the original bronzed finish. The dial, glass, prism and sights are all in very good condition.
Dimensions: 75mm diameter (100mm including prism) x 30mm height
