A rare early W. F. Stanley Military Compass Clinometer, also known as an 'Angle of Sight Instrument', dating from c.1885. The design of this instrument was patented by Francis Barker & Son Ltd in 1881 (Patent No. 1926) as the 'Combined Prismatic Compass and Clinometer'. A similar instrument had been devised by by William Ford Stanley c.1860, and is described in his book Surveying and Levelling Instruments (1895). Stanley compared his instrument with the Barker Combined Prismatic Compass and Clinometer of 1881: 'The prismatic compass of this arrangement is of Hutchinson's form. The clinometer is of the same kind as that just described, but this, instead of being a separate part of the instrument capable of detachment, remains permanent. A part of the clinometer card is cut away so as to permit the compass card to be read underneath. This cut away part is held by a stop to a position out of the field of the prism when the instrument is to be used as a prismatic compass. When the stop is released, the clinometer card comes into view'.
The Stanley compass clinometer has a bronzed finish brass case with green compass card, white clinometer scale card, and prism and vane sights. There is a transit lock, operated when the sights are folded down. The case is signed by 'Stanley, London', with the serial number 2199, and also 'Barker's Patent No. 1926'. It could be used as a either a conventional prismatic compass or a clinometer. With the compass held horizontally and the prism and sights vertical, the compass bearing on the green card can be read through the prism. To use it as a clinometer, the instrument is held vertically with the prism and sight horizontal. The button at the top edge is then released and the white clinometer card swings, with the reading being visible through the prism.
This type of combination instrument was often used for military surveying and artillery work, from the late Victorian era until WW2. Further information can be found in the PDF version of Paul Crepsel's Trade Mark London, available to view at trademarklondon.com.
William Ford Stanley (1829 - 1909): was a British inventor with 78 patents filed in both the United Kingdom and the USA. He was an engineer who designed and made precision drawing and mathematical instruments, as well as surveying instruments and telescopes, manufactured by his company, William Ford Stanley and Co. Ltd. Stanley was a skilled architect who designed and founded the UK's first Trades School. He was also a noted philanthropist, who gave over £80,000 to education projects during the last 15 years of his life. When he died, most of his estate, valued at £59,000, was bequeathed to trade schools and students in south London, and he left one of his houses to be used as a children's home. Stanley was a member of several professional bodies and societies, including the Royal Society of Arts, Royal Meteorological Society, and Royal Astronomical Association. Besides these activities, he was a painter, musician and photographer, as well as an author of a variety of publications, including plays, books for children, and political treatises.
Stanley started his business in 1854 with just £100, making mathematical and drawing instruments at 3 Great Turnstile, Holborn, London. Stanley produced a 'Panoptic Stereoscope' in 1855, which was financially successful, allowing him to expand his business with additional shops at 3–4 Great Turnstile and 286 High Holborn. He did not patent the Panoptic, so it was soon copied around the world, but he had sold enough to provide the capital required to manufacture scientific instruments. Stanley brought out the first catalogue of his products in 1864. By the fifth edition, Stanley was able to list important customers such as several government departments, the Army, Royal Navy, railway companies at home and abroad, and London University. From 1865, he worked on improving surveying instruments, including designing a new type of theodolite.
Stanley designed and set up a new factory in 1875 (called The Stanley Works, it was listed in the 1876 Croydon Directories as Stanley Mathematical Instruments) in Belgrave Road, London, which produced a variety of instruments for civil, military, and mining engineers, prospectors and explorers, architects, meteorologists and artists. The firm finally moved out of the factory in the 1920s. By 1881, Stanley was employing 80 people and producing 3,000 technical items, as detailed in his catalogue. In 1885, Stanley was awarded a gold medal at the International Inventors Exhibition at Wembley. The rapid growth of his business led to the opening of branches at Lincoln's Inn, London Bridge, and South Norwood. The catalogue for 1891 refers to the company having 17 branches, with over 130 workmen. By the start of the 20th century the company was reputed to be the largest instrument maker in the world. The company traded at Great Turnstile until 1914, then at 286 High Holborn until 1939, continuing at various addresses in London until finally being dissolved in 2001.
Condition:
In good condition. The compass is in good working order and finds North very well. The clinometer is in good working order. The case is in good condition, with general signs of wear to the original bronzed finish. The glass windows, prism, sights, and both compass and clinometer cards are in good condition. The leather case is in very good condition, with part of the strap missing.
Dimensions : 70mm diameter (100mm inc. prism), 20mm depth
