{"product_id":"s-b-solomons-major-hutchinsons-improved-compass-c-1874","title":"S \u0026 B Solomons 'Hutchinson's Improved Patent' Compass c.1874","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Hutchinson's Improved compass, signed by S \u0026amp; B Solomons, dating from c.1874. With a bronzed brass case, prism and vane sights, very finely engraved aluminium ring dial, transit lock, and tripod mount on the base, this type of military compass was a development of the 1812 Schmalcalder Patent design. Unlike the Schmalcalder instrument, the Hutchinson's has a solid top plate, with a small viewing window near the prism, and an aluminium ring dial. Almost all the early Schmalcalder compasses were fitted with a paper compass card, and the metal ring dial only came into widespread use much later in the Victorian period, when it was adopted by W. F. Stanley in the late 1850s for use in his prismatic surveying compasses and clinometers. In the 1876 J. Hicks \u003cem\u003eIllustrated \u0026amp; Descriptive Catalogue\u003c\/em\u003e the 'Improved Hutchinson Prismatic Compass' was described as being lighter and less bulky 'than the old form', and having been 'adopted by the various branches of the English and Foreign Services'. Other makers, including Elliot Brothers and Francis Barker \u0026amp; Son, also used the ring dial for their surveying and military instruments in the mid to late Victorian era. The design proved to be very successful, with the Francis Barker version continuing to be manufactured until the 1980's. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe brass compass case is engraved 'S \u0026amp; B Solomons, London' and 'Hutchinson's Improved Patent'. The leather case has the initials 'D. S. P', and 'Scots Greys' written in ink on the front panel. These are the details of the original owner, Lieutenant D. S. Porteous of the 2nd (Royal North British) Regiment of Dragoons (Scots Greys). The compass can be dated quite accurately to c.1874, as it is most likely that it was purchased by Lieutenant Porteous when he was commissioned in February 1874, and S \u0026amp; B Solomons had ceased trading by 1879. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLieutenant David Scott Porteous (1852-1931): \u003c\/strong\u003ewas born in Montrose, Scotland on 25th September 1852. He was the eldest son of Alexander Porteous, a wealthy landowner and owner of Lauriston Castle. Alexander Porteous had made his fortune overseas, was instrumental in importing Jute into Scotland, and was also involved with the development of the Montrose and Bervie Railway. David Porteous was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in the 2nd (Royal North British) Regiment of Dragoons (Scots Greys) on 24th February 1874, and served with the regiment until his retirement from the army in June 1877. He inherited the family estates in 1872 and was listed as the proprietor and occupier of the Mansion House and Offices on the Estate of Lauriston, Nigg, Kincardine, Scotland. The \u003cem\u003eOrdnance Gazetteer of Scotland\u003c\/em\u003e (1882) described the mansion and estate: 'Lauriston Castle, a mansion in St Cyrus parish, Kincardineshire, on the steep verge of a deep wooded ravine, ¾ mile N of Lauriston station on the Bervie branch of the North British railway, this being 6¾ miles NNE of Montrose. Comprising portions of a 10th century castle, which in 1336 was captured by Edward III, and which belonged to the Straton's from the 13th century till 1695, it is mainly a spacious and elegant mansion-house of the early part of the present century, with grounds of singular beauty. Its owner, David Scott Porteous Esq. (b. 1852; suc. 1872), holds 3437 acres in the shire, valued at £5534 per annum'. David Scott Porteous died at St Cyrus, Kincardineshire in 1931.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eS \u0026amp; B Solomons (c.1832-1879): \u003c\/strong\u003eSamuel and Benjamin Solomons were opticians who established their business at 5 New Road, St. George's East, London c.1832. Their main address was 39 Albermarle St. Piccadilly, and they also had premises at 76 King Street. Solomons were listed as Mathematical and Philosophical Instrument makers, and are known to have sold microscopes, telescopes, magic lanterns and other scientific instruments. An advertisement from 1839 stated that they were 'opticians and aurists to Their Majesties the King and Queen of Hanover and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Augusta and Sophia'. Another advert from 1863 claimed that they supplied items to 'the majority of the nobility, including Viscount Palmerston'. S \u0026amp; B Solomons ceased trading in 1879.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn very good condition and full working order. The compass finds North very well. The glass and prism are in very good condition, with an excellent view of the dial through the prism. The metal ring dial is in very good condition. There are general signs of wear and use and some marks to the original bronzed finish of the brass case. The fitted leather case is in very good condition, with general signs of wear to the shoulder strap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e diameter: 100mm, height (sight raised): 120mm\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Compass Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47960407474327,"sku":null,"price":53100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/files\/SolomonsScotsGreysCompass-27.jpg?v=1782810063","url":"https:\/\/www.compasslibrary.com\/en-jp\/products\/s-b-solomons-major-hutchinsons-improved-compass-c-1874","provider":"Compass Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}