A Francis Barker nickel-plated brass, hunter cased pocket compass, dating from c.1880 - 1910. The compass has an aluminium compass card, English bar needle, and jewelled pivot. The lid is opened by a push button at the bow. It is marked 'Made in England' on the dial. Although there are no other maker's marks, this was one of Francis Barker's registered compass card designs. First introduced in the 1860s, it was used in many Barker 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.
Further details of this Barker design can be found in Paul Crespel's book Trade Mark London, 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: first 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 finds North very well. The glass, needle, and compass card are in excellent condition. The case is in very good condition, with a few minor marks.
Dimensions: 45mm diameter (60mm inc. loop)
