{"title":"Frontpage","description":"Antique Compasses and Military Books available from compasslibrary.com","products":[{"product_id":"newton-co-pocket-compass-c-1875","title":"Newton \u0026 Co. 'Rob Roy Canoe' Compass c.1865","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Newton \u0026amp; Co. hunter cased pocket compass, dating from c.1865. The compass card is an exceptionally rare design, known as the 'Rob Roy Canoe Pattern', which appeared in the 1871 edition of the Royal Geographical Society publication \u003cem\u003eHints To Travellers\u003c\/em\u003e. The unusual name relates to the Victorian adventurer John 'Rob Roy' MacGregor who was one of the very earliest canoeists, best known for his epic 1,000 mile journey across europe in 1865 in his self-designed 'Rob Roy' canoe. It is not known whether the compass was designed by MacGregor, or just made for him and other pioneering Victorian canoeists, including the many enthusiasts who bought his best-selling book A\u003cem\u003e Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe on Twenty Lakes and Rivers of Europe \u003c\/em\u003e(1866). The mother of pearl dial would certainly have been more water resistant than paper or card types, making it suitable for use on board a canoe or kayak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a brass hunter case, flat glass, hand-painted Mother of Pearl compass card signed 'Newton \u0026amp; Co, 3 Fleet Street, London', jewelled pivot, and transit lock. The underside of the glass is marked in red with the four cardinal points. The brass case would originally have had a 'bronzed' finish - much of this has worn away from the exterior, but is still present on the interior of the lid.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis compass was described and illustrated in the 1871 edition of the RGS expedition handbook \u003cem\u003eHints to Travellers\u003c\/em\u003e, but there was no mention of it all the 1876 edition - suggesting that it was only made for a relatively short period, between c.1865-1875. The more successful 'RGS' type design appeared in both editions and went on to be produced until the early 20th century, while the 'Rob Roy pattern' disappeared almost without trace. It seems likely that very few 'Rob Roy' compasses were made. The style of the case and the red markings to the underside of the glass are identical to compasses made by Francis Barker around this time, and it is quite possible that the 'Rob Roy' was made for Newton by Barker. Barker's compasses were often supplied to retailers without any maker's marks, with the retailer then signing them and selling them on as their own products. Further details of this unique compass design can be found on page 9 of Kornelia Takacs book \u003cem\u003eCompass Chronicles\u003c\/em\u003e (Schiffer, 2010).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn 'Rob Roy' MacGregor (1825-1892) \u003c\/strong\u003enicknamed ‘Rob Roy’ after the Scottish outlaw and folk hero, to whom he was distantly related, was a Scottish barrister, adventurer, and philanthropist - his travels, books, and lecture tours were all devoted to raising funds for various charitable causes. At Trinity College, Dublin, MacGregor read mathematics and was an active oarsman, going on to study patent law and being called to the bar in 1851. During this time MacGregor developed a love of boating and in 1848 he became interested in canoeing when he saw the india rubber boat of Archibald Smith. Over the following years he travelled widely, partly in his capacity as an officer in the British Army Reserve. When he was invalided out of the army in 1865 following an accident, he decided to design and commission a canoe to further his explorations and adventures. He approached Searles of Lambeth, who specialised in lightweight clinker built rowing skiffs, and commissioned a design, inspired by Inuit (Eskimo) kayaks, but with sailing capabilities. The Rob Roy Canoe Mark I was 15 ft long (a length determined by the need to fit in a German railway wagon), with a beam of 28 inches and a draft of 3 inches. With a 9 ft long flat bladed paddle, it was also equipped with a mast, lug and jib sail rig. Built of oak planks on oak frames, and with a cedar deck it weighed 80 pounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEquipped with this craft MacGregor set off in 1865 to explore the rivers of Europe, travelling between sections of river by railway, river steamer, and at times ox cart, as well as sections of portage by hand. He covered over 1,000 miles in his characteristic paddling outfit of flannel jacket, matching trousers, canvas shoes, all topped off with a straw boater. Returning from his travels MacGregor wrote his first book A\u003cem\u003e Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe on Twenty Lakes and Rivers of Europe \u003c\/em\u003e(1866). The book was an instant success and had to be reprinted several times in its first year. The enthusiasm that followed the book and his lectures led MacGregor to found The Canoe Club in 1866, its members including various distinguished oarsmen, travellers, alpine climbers and athletes. The Prince of Wales soon became the first Commodore. Canoeing did not meet with universal acclaim however, with some describing it as “a mockery of boating” and “the invention of savages”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMacGregor set off again in 1866, in a shorter, lighter, Mark II version, to tour the rivers and lakes of Scandinavia. By this stage canoeing had caught the popular imagination and some 200 Rob Roy canoes had been built and sold. For his next voyage MacGregor decided he did not want to be dependent on paddling. His next design, the Rob Roy Yawl, 21 ft long with a 7 ft beam, was a proper sailing craft, and featured provision for cooking and sleeping aboard. In this craft he sailed across the English Channel and was then towed up to Paris for the 1867 Expédition Universelle. For his 1869 expedition MacGregor paddled down the uncompleted Suez Canal, before returning to Port Said, crossing to Beirut, navigating the rivers of Syria, and then travelling down the Jordan. Highlights of this trip involved portages past rapids and being chased and captured by spear-wielding locals. Later years saw paddling trips along the south coast of England (1870), and the coast and canals of Holland (1871). In 1873 MacGregor married and gave up canoeing, though he continued his lecture tours. John MacGregor died in 1892, and is all but forgotten today, despite having been a great Victorian adventurer and the pioneer of the modern sport of canoeing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNewton \u0026amp; Co:\u003c\/strong\u003e were reputed to be the oldest firm of scientific instrument makers in the world, founded c.1704. The exact date the company was established is not known, but John Newton (a cousin of Sir Isaac Newton) was the head of the firm in October 1704. Located at 128 Chancery Lane, John Newton was a globe maker. The firm went through a long and quite complicated series of partnerships involving various family members, operating as patent agents, publishers, land surveyors, and civil engineers, alongside the main globe making business. In 1851, optical engineer Frederick Newton went into partnership with his distant cousin William Edward Newton, a civil engineer, patent agent, and heir to the established globe-making side of the family. Frederick brought in skills as a lens-maker, and the partners produced microscopes, telescopes, cameras, and other apparatus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1851 W. E. \u0026amp; F. Newton exhibited microscopes, telescopes, opera glasses, and globes at that year’s International Exposition in London. Newton \u0026amp; Son also exhibited the globes that had long been the family’s main products. W. E. \u0026amp; F. Newton were then located at 3 Fleet Street, while Newton \u0026amp; Son were at 66 Chancery Lane. There were no clear distinctions between the two businesses, as William Edward Newton was co-owner of both businesses. In the same year, W. E. \u0026amp; F. Newton secured an appointment to Prince Albert, and also became opticians and globe-makers for Queen Victoria. The partners separated toward the end of 1856, with Frederick continuing the optical business in Fleet Street as Newton \u0026amp; Co. The use of the name 'Newton \u0026amp; Co.' from 1857 onwards probably indicates continued financial involvement by William and his family. William Edward Newton returned to the family globe and patent business. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNewton \u0026amp; Co. exhibited at the 1862 London Exhibition, displaying “Mathematical, surveying, and philosophical instruments, \u0026amp;c”. They also produced microscopes and several different types of magic lantern - which became one of their main products. By the 1880s Newton \u0026amp; Co. had largely dropped their microscope lines, concentrating instead on magic lanterns and photographic equipment. William Edward Newton died in 1879, and was succeeded in business by his son Henry, who continued the Newton \u0026amp; Son business at 66 Chancery Lane. Frederick Newton died in 1909. Frederick's only son, Herbert Charles Newton, continued the Newton \u0026amp; Co. business in partnership with R. S. Wright. The business moved to 37 King Street, Covent Garden, in 1912. In 1914 they were described as 'Opticians and manufacturers of scientific and electrical instruments. Specialities: optical lanterns and slides' with 'Royal Warrants to His late Majesty King Edward and H.M. King George V.  Makers of scientific instruments, etc., to the Admiralty, War Department, H. M. Training Ships, Indian and Foreign Governments, Board of Education, South Kensington, etc'. The partnership dissolved in 1920, with each partner continuing a seperate business named Newton \u0026amp; Co. H. C. Newton continued at 37 King Street until 1926, when he moved to 43 Museum Street. His shop finally closed in 1937, a few years before his death. R. S. Wright's version of Newton \u0026amp; Co. was located at 71 or 72 Wigmore Street until 1953.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn very good condition and full working order. The brass case is in very good condition, with some minor signs of wear. The original bronzed finish has mostly worn off the exterior, but is very well preserved on the interior of the lid. The lid opens and closes well. The mother of pearl compass card, jewelled pivot, and glass are all in very good condition. The transit lock is working well.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions :\u003c\/strong\u003e 43mm (65mm including loop)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Compass Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46084406149271,"sku":null,"price":475.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/files\/NewtonCompass-31.jpg?v=1767026416"},{"product_id":"vickers-armstrongs-aircraft-armament-c-1927","title":"Vickers Armstrongs Aircraft Armament c.1927","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVICKERS ARMSTRONGS\u003cbr\u003eAIRCRAFT ARMAMENT\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVICKERS-ARMSTRONGS LIMITED, London, c.1927\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very rare Vickers-Armstrongs aircraft machine gun and bombing equipment brochure, covering the various models of Vickers gun available between the wars. Undated, but the introduction mentions the recent amalagamation between Vickers and Armstrong Whitworth which took place in 1927. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe aircraft guns and other weapons and equipment covered include: Vickers Automatic R.C. Gun (Class \"E\"), Vickers-Berthier Observers R.C. Gun, Observers R.C. Automatic Gun (Class \"F\"), Vickers Automatic Pilots Gun .5 inch, Vickers-Scarff Wind Balanced Ring Mounting, Vickers Twin Class Gun on Scarff Ring Mounting No.7, Vickers-Armstrongs High Explosive Bomb, Vickers Practice Bomb, Combined Bomb Carrier, Centralized Bomb Release Control, Vickers-Bygrave Bombing Teacher, Vickers Rocking Fuselage, and Pyrotechnics. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIllustrated with drawings and diagrams.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn very good condition. The card cover is in very good condition with minimal signs of use and a very slight central crease. The stapled binding is very good and secure. The text and illustrations are in very good condition, with a very slight central crease. There is a name and address written in ink on the inside of the front cover.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePublished: c.1927\u003cbr\u003eBlue card cover, with black and gilt titling\u003cbr\u003eIllustrated with diagrams and drawings\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 155mm x 245mm\u003cbr\u003ePages: 22\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Compass Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46118909247639,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/files\/VickersArmstrongs-41.jpg?v=1758113177"},{"product_id":"verners-map-reading-and-field-sketching-1898","title":"Verner's Map Reading and Field Sketching (1898)","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMAP READING\u003cbr\u003eAND FIELD SKETCHING\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLt-Col. Willoughby Verner\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJOHN BALE, SONS \u0026amp; DANIELSSON Ltd, London, 1898\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very rare 1898 edition of Lieut-Colonel Verner's \u003cem\u003eMap Reading and Field Sketching\u003c\/em\u003e, covering military sketching, map reading and the use of the prismatic service compass. The book is illustrated with diagrams and a folding sketch map. Subjects covered include: military maps, the magnetic compass, contoured maps, using maps on the ground, and elements of field sketching. There is also a J. H. Steward advert at the rear, promoting Verner’s latest service compasses and endorsed by General Wolseley: “I think every Staff Officer should possess them. Indeed the compass will be of use to all Regimental Oficers as well. I have bought one for my own use”.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLt-Colonel Willoughby Verner (1852-1922)\u003c\/strong\u003e was an army officer and prolific inventor of military scientific instruments, with his patented compasses being standard issue in the British army from the 1890s to the start of the Second World War. Verner also patented a Cavalry Sketching Board that was used throughout WW1, and wrote extensively on military subjects. Verner joined the Rifle Brigade in 1874 and served in the Sudan and the Boer War, later becoming the official historian of the Rifle Brigade. His published works included \u003cem\u003eSketches in the Soudan\u003c\/em\u003e (1885) and \u003cem\u003eRapid Field-Sketching and Reconnaissance\u003c\/em\u003e (1889). Today Verner is undoubtedly best known for his iconic series of military compasses, mostly produced by J. H. Steward and Elliot Brothers between c.1891 and 1918. The earliest of these compasses, and several of Verner's other innovations are well described and illustrated in his book \u003cem\u003eSome Notes on Military Topography\u003c\/em\u003e (1891).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn very good condition. The boards are in very good condition, with a few marks, some wear to the edges of the spine, and the number ‘470’ on the rear board. The binding and hinges are very good and secure. The text and illustrations are in very good condition. The book is signed on the front endpapers by ‘G. H. Spencer’, and there is also a second signature of 'Jean [?], Easter Sunday, Marlborough'.\u2028\u2028\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublished: 1898\u2028\u003cbr\u003eRed boards with gilt titling\u2028\u003cbr\u003eIllustrated with diagrams \u0026amp; a fold-out map\u2028\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 125mm x 185mm\u2028\u003cbr\u003ePages: 62\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Compass Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46155740709015,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/files\/MapReadingVerner-3.jpg?v=1759308928"},{"product_id":"h-thurlow-ryde-barker-transparent-compass-c-1880","title":"Henry Thurlow Transparent Compass c.1881","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn extremely rare and unusual transparent pocket compass, made by Francis Barker \u0026amp; Son for Henry Thurlow of Ryde, Isle of Wight, c.1881. The compass has a brass case, with a bronzed finish, and an English bar needle set on a pivot between the two glasses. It also has a unique rotating bezel transit lock mechanism - turning the bezel anti-clockwise locks the needle to protect the jewelled pivot point from excessive wear. The compass is signed on the lower glass by 'H. Thurlow, 54 \u0026amp; 55 Union St, Ryde'. It comes complete with its original red morocco leather case - lined with red silk, with 'By Appointment to the Queen, Thurlow, Jeweller, Ryde, IOW', stamped in gold lettering inside the lid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHenry Thurlow was an Isle of Wight watchmaker and jeweller 'By Appointment to the Queen', but he was not a compass maker, and this compass was made by Francis Barker \u0026amp; Son. This is a very distinctive and exceptionally rare compass design, and the only other known example was made and signed by Francis Barker \u0026amp; Son. Barker produced a variety of transparent compass designs during the late Victorian era, including the iconic 'Pebble Lens' series. A version the 'Pebble Lens' cyclists compass had a bronzed-finish case very similar to this one. Another transparent pocket compass attributed to Barker had almost identical concentric circular markings on the glass. Although the Thurlow compass is not signed by Francis Barker, the company often sold their products unsigned to the retail trade, occasionally adding the retailer's details to the compass during manufacture. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe transparent pocket compass was popular around the turn of the 20th century, and was intended to be used placed on a map, with features such as roads and obstacles being visible through the glass. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries Francis Barker \u0026amp; Son were the foremost makers of transparent compasses, which were often known as cyclists or riders compasses. In J. H. Steward catalogues of the time they were described as 'An excellent horseback compass, and if held above the head the needle can be seen at night time against the sky. If laid on a map, being transparent, the direction of roads can readily be seen'. In the 1885 Barker catalogue they were described as 'invaluable to Cyclists, Captains, Military Men, and others'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eH. Thurlow, Ryde, Isle of Wight:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Thurlow family watchmaking and jewellery business was established in Ryde, Isle of Wight in the early 1840s by Edward Thurlow (1816-1881). A trade directory for 1844 listed him as a watchmaker and jeweller at 55 Union Street, Ryde. In 1870 Edward Thurlow was elected to be Mayor of Ryde, and the 1871 Census recorded him as trading at Union Street with his son Henry, aged 27 and also a jeweller, and Walter Rumbelow, an apprentice jeweller aged just eleven. The \u003cem\u003ePost Office Directory\u003c\/em\u003e for 1875 still listed the business as Edward Thurlow, 54 \u0026amp; 55 Union Street. When Edward Thurlow died in 1881, the business passed to his son Henry. The \u003cem\u003eLondon Gazette\u003c\/em\u003e for 11th January 1901 included Henry Thurlow in the list of 'Tradesmen empoyed by the Mistress of the Robes and who hold Warrants of Appointments, with Authority to use the Royal Arms'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrancis Barker \u0026amp; Son: \u003c\/strong\u003ewere established in London in 1848, as a maker of compasses and scientific instruments. One of the most important British scientific instrument makers of the Victorian era, Francis Barker produced a very wide range of compass designs throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, supplying major British retailers such as Negretti \u0026amp; Zambra, J. Lizars, C. W. Dixey, and Dollond \u0026amp; Co, and exporting their products worldwide. The company prospered until 1932, when it was taken over and became F. Barker \u0026amp; Son (1932). After WW2 the company changed hands several times and the name is now owned by 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn excellent condition, full working order, and finds North very well. There is some minor wear to the original bronzed finish of the brass case. The morocco leather case is in very good condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions :\u003c\/strong\u003e 50mm diameter (80mm including loop)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Compass Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46267902787735,"sku":null,"price":545.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/files\/ThurlowTransparent-21.jpg?v=1762970617"},{"product_id":"a-gamage-ltd-singers-patent-compass-c-1898","title":"A. W. Gamage Ltd, Singer's Compass c.1898","description":"\u003cp\u003eA very rare A. W. Gamage Ltd Singer's Patent-type luminous pocket compass, dating from c.1898. The paper compass card is hand drawn in the classic Singer's design, and signed by 'A. W. Gamage Ltd, London'. The compass was made by Francis Barker \u0026amp; Son and retailed by Gamage from their department store in Holborn. It has the post-1875 reversed 'S' 'Trade Mark London' Barker logo within the lyre at 'N', but also has the pre-1875 Barker logo stamped inside the lid. A. W. Gamage became a limited company in 1897, so it would seem that Barker fitted a compass card made around 1898 to a case they had made much earlier, before the change of logo in 1875. It is very unusual to find the two different Barker logos on the same compass. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe compass has luminous paint markers at the four cardinal points. This type of luminous paint, most probably a version of 'Balmain's Luminous Paint', was a compound of calcium sulphide. The paint was made luminous by exposure to sunlight or by burning a strip of magnesium ribbon near the compass card. It was patented in England by William Balmain in 1877, and was often used in compasses during the last quarter of the 19th century. The compass has a brass hunter case, paper card with jewelled pivot, and a transit lock. There is a paper sighting line inside the lid, along with the remains of the original oval instruction label. This label would have read: 'To render the compass luminous at night it should be exposed to the daylight, or preferably by burning about 1-inch Magnesium ribbon close to the dial'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA. W. Gamage Ltd:\u003c\/strong\u003e was established in 1878 when Albert Walter Gamage (1855-1930) opened a shop in London in partnership with Frank Spain. They leased a small hosiery and outfitters shop at 128 Holborn, and Gamage hung his motto \"Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow\" above the door. In 1881 Gamage bought out Frank Spain and began to expand the premises by buying the small properties that surrounded his original shop until most of the block between Leather Lane and Hatton Garden was in his hands. This massive shop was now known as A. W. Gamage. By the end of the nineteenth century Gamage had turned his premises at High Holborn into one of the capital’s major department stores. The business became A. W. Gamage Ltd in 1897, and was known as the ‘People’s Popular Emporium’. It claimed to be the ‘world’s largest sport and athletic outfitter’ and also had a thriving mail order business, publishing a 900-page catalogue in 1911. Besides sporting goods, bicycles, and toys, Gamage sold a wide range of household goods and hardware, including haberdashery, clothing, furniture, gardening supplies, and camping equipment. Gamage was the official supplier of uniforms to the Boy Scout movement and also had a motor department selling motor cars and motorcycles. By 1920 the department store had become known as Gamages. The company continued to trade throughout the 20th century, before finally closing in March 1972.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrancis Barker \u0026amp; Son\u003c\/strong\u003e: 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 \u0026amp; 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 \u0026amp; 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSamuel Berry Singer (1796 - c.1875)\u003c\/strong\u003e was a master mariner from Southampton. He patented his unique design in June 1861, although he had been working on it since 1853. Its high contrast compass card was intended to be much easier to read in low light than conventional compasses of the time, and was considered to be a significant innovation. It was tested for night use by Trinity House and the Royal Navy. David Livingstone, the celebrated Victorian explorer, used one of Singer's compasses and provided a testimonial in the Negretti \u0026amp; Zambra catalogue for 1864. The administration and licensing of Singer's design and the allocation of the patent serial numbers was handled by Negretti \u0026amp; Zambra. Although his compass was widely adopted by British scientific instrument makers during the second half of the 19th century, Singer himself did not benefit greatly from his invention. The patent lapsed in 1868 when he was unable to pay the stamp duty required for its renewal, and he ended his days living in poverty in Kincardine on the Firth of Forth. Versions of his design continued to be made until after the First World War. Further details of the history of the Singer's Patent compass can be found at the compasscollector.com website, and in \u003cem\u003eCompass Chronicles\u003c\/em\u003e by Kornelia Takacs (Schiffer, 2010).\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 compass case, card and glass are in very good condition. The case would originally have had a bronzed or blackened finish - most of this has worn away from the exterior, but it can still be seen inside the lid. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50mm diameter x 17mm height\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Compass Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47865138479255,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/files\/BarkerGamages-30.jpg?v=1780506786"},{"product_id":"counter-intelligence-handbook-germany-1944","title":"Counter Intelligence Handbook Germany (1944)","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 160%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC. I. HANDBOOK\u003cbr\u003eGERMANY\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 160%;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 160%;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSupreme Headquarters\u003cbr\u003eAllied Expeditionary Force\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 160%;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOFFICE OF ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF G-2,\u003cbr\u003eCOUNTER INTELLIGENCE SUB-DIVISION,\u003cbr\u003eS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: inherit; line-height: 160%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: inherit; line-height: 160%;\"\u003eUPREME H.Q. ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE,  October 1944\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: 160%;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very rare Supreme Allied Expeditionary Forces HQ Counter-Intelligence Handbook, marked ‘Restricted’, and produced by S.H.A.E.F. in 1944. It was a restricted document, intended to be used by Allied intelligence officers serving in North Western Europe, in particular those entering Germany during the final months of the war, in preparation for the impending defeat of Nazi Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis copy comes with the extremely rare additional \u003cem\u003eGermany Chart Supplement\u003c\/em\u003e folder, including 8 large format coloured charts and diagrams, showing the structure of key Nazi organisations, such as the SS, SA and Wehrkreis. There is also a loosely inserted typewritten Allied Forces HQ, G-2 Counter Intelligence Section corrections and amendments sheet, marked ‘Restricted'. The handbook is signed on the front cover by ’Sgt Makins’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC.I. Handbook Germany\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e provides an overview of the Nazi State, Nazi Party organisation, and the organisation of paramilitary formations like the SA, SS, Hitler Youth, NSKK, NSFK and Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD). One chapter covers various police formations such as the Ordnungspolizei (including the Schutzpolizei, Gendarmerie, Feuerschutz Polizei, Wasserschutzpolizei, Hilfspolizei, Technische Nothilfe, Verwaltungspolizei), the Sicherheitspolizei, Reichskriminalpolizei and Gestapo. Another section covers the Abwehr, and the Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführer-SS.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere is also an extensive glossary of German terms and abbreviations, with complete German names and English translations. The glossary is followed by 13 excellent full-page colour plates of Nazi uniforms, headgear, daggers, gorgets, lanyards, collar tabs, shoulder boards and other insignia of paramilitary and police organisations, including the SS, SA, and Hitler Youth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the rear of the book there are fold-out charts providing a detailed organisational plan of the various police units under the control of the Interior Ministry of Heinrich Himmler, a fold-out map showing the various Prussian and other provinces throughout Germany, and another large fold-out map of the Wehrkreis or defence districts and Gaue in Nazi Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe additional \u003cem\u003eGerman Chart Supplement\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003efolder, includes a series of detailed charts and diagrams, illustrating the administration and structure of the Nazi State and its paramilitary forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eS.H.A.E.F. G-2 (Counter Intelligence)\u003c\/strong\u003e: During WW2 this department was was responsible for military intelligence analysis, counter-intelligence operations, and co-ordinating liaison with resistance movements behind enemy lines. It received information from the allied armies and army groups, from resistance groups, from reports of the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) and from the Joint Intelligence Committee (London). G-2 drew on the work and expertise of a variety of British and US intelligence departments and organisations, including the O.S.S., S.I.S., M.I.5, and M.I.14. M.I.14 was the British wartime department that specialised in intelligence about Germany. Also known as 'Section 14', M.I.14 was a department of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence. Originally part of M.I.3, during WW2 the German sub-department's expertise and analysis became so important to the war effort that it was spun off into its own Military Intelligence section. By 1945 G-2 was based in London, with an M.I.5. officer as its Director, and an O.S.S. officer as Deputy Director.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn very good condition. The card cover is in very good condition, with general signs of wear and use, and some minor marks. The binding is good and secure. The text, colour plates, and maps are in very good condition. The Chart Supplement is in very good condition, with minor signs of wear  and a circular mark to the  front cover. The 8 charts are in very good condition. Signed on the front cover by ’Sgt Makins’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePublished: 1944\u003cbr\u003eKhaki card covers\u003cbr\u003eIllustrated with colour plates, maps, and fold-outs\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 120mm x 185mm\u003cbr\u003ePages: 162 (plus 13 colour plates, and fold outs \u0026amp; maps)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCharts Supplement: Khaki card folder, with 8 large folding charts\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e***Please Note:\u003c\/strong\u003e NSDAP and other controversial political symbols have been edited in the images displayed in this listing. In the book itself, these symbols are present, unedited, and exactly as originally printed\u003cstrong\u003e***\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Compass Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47868522823831,"sku":null,"price":365.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/files\/C.I.Handbook-1.jpg?v=1780686984"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/collections\/Warranted_Compass_1511.jpg?v=1456738175","url":"https:\/\/www.compasslibrary.com\/en-nl\/collections\/frontpage\/s-h-a-e-f.oembed","provider":"Compass Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}