E - G.W. BLUNT Boxed Dry Card Compass Gimbaled Pivot 1820

You will not have seen anything with a gimbaled center pivot and in perfect condition from a early pedigreed American maker

Presented is an early 19th Century large boxed compass by E & G. W. Blunt that is similar to one on display at the Smithsonian Museum by the same maker. However, the absence of degrees suggests it is from the first quarter of the 19th Century, and makes it many years earlier than the Smithsonian's. It also has a very special jeweled bearing which is housed in a central set of gimbals. This compass is the only one we've ever seen with this special feature. The spun brass bowl with original varnish has a simple hand lettered dry card all hung from proper outside gimbals. It is housed in an simple Spruce box with handcrafted tongue and groove construction. It is in superb original condition.

See Smithsonian: http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/navigation/object.cfm?recordnumber=1183891

Because of its unusual pivot, we consider this a very rare example of an early American boxed dry card compass. It is truly of "museum quality" a term that we do not use lightly.

Top view of rare gimbaled center jeweled pivot

THE BOX is simply made and uses tongue and groove construction. The wood may be Spruce and is knot free. There are some missing pieces of wood and some age cracks, but nothing that lessens the integrity of the box. Two nuts hold the outer gimbals. There is a wood cover with a knob to help slide it in and out.

Fully gimbaled, jeweled center pivot. Only one known to exist.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS:

The case is 10" square by 9 1/2" high Weight 6 lbs 9 oz

THE DRY CARD COMPASS: The dry mariner's compass was invented in Europe around 1300, and consists of three elements: A freely pivoting needle on a pin enclosed in a box with glass cover and a compass (directional) rose or card. The compass card is attached to a magnetized needle in such a manner that when placed on a pivot it remains near stationary, always pointing North while the ship changes direction. Thus, as the ship's course is changed, it may be read from the compass rose indicating what course the ship is on".A gimbal mounting allows the compass to remain near horizontal while the ship rolls and pitches, and adds to the accuracy of the reading.

BUNT COMPASS DETAILS: The bowl of the compass is spun brass with its original varnish in excellent condition. The engraved paper dry card's "North" is identified with a very ornate Fleur des Lis. There is a black vertical line in the tube which is called a "lubber's line" should aways be oriented to the ship's bow. On the inner circle is engraved, "E & G W. BLUNT" above the center pivot, and "NEW YORK" below.

The outer ring of the compass card is subdivided in "points" each point being 11 1/4 degrees. The larger subdivisions are in Cardinal Points, N,S,E,W, and quarter points, NE,SE,SW,NW, then 1/2 points, 1/8 points and finally 1/16 points. There are 32 points on the compass card making 360 degrees in total. The glass is sealed in place by its original red lead compound. The arrow points to the lubber's line.

Hand painted compass card

COMPASS DIMENSIONS:

Diameter of bowl 7 1/4" Diameter of card 6 1/4"
Diameter of gimbals 8 1/2" Depth of bowl 5 1/2"

CONDITION: This beautifully made antique compass bowl and gimbals is of brass construction has no exceptions and is in remarkably "near new" condition throughout. All surfaces are original the brass has a lacquered golden patina of which about 85% remains. The compass works properly.

Spun brass bowl and gimbal