General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

4

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

.1 BRASS CASING, SIGHT VANES AND BUBBLE LEVEL CASINGS. COMPASS FACE AND CIRCLE ARE SILVER. GLASS BEZEL AND LEVEL TUBES. STRING SIGHT LINE..2 BRASS STAFF MOUNTING..3 MAHOGANY WOOD CASE; FELT PADS LINE SOME SUPPORTS. LEATHER COVER FOR CASE FITTED WITH METAL CLOSURES.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

18.5 cm

Width

17.0 cm

Height

6.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Exploration and Survey

Category

Measurement-direction

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Gurley

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New York

City

Troy

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

THIS INSTRUMENT MAY HAVE BEEN USED C. 1880S-1900.

Canada

MARCUS SMITHWAS BORN IN NORTHUMBRIA, ENGLAND IN 1831 AND WORKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SURVEY OF EARLY BRITISH RAILWAYS. HE EMIGRATED TO CANADA IN 1849 AND WORKED ON THE GREAT WESTERN AND NIAGARA & DETROIT RIVER RAILWAY (UNTIL 1860) AND INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY (RESTIGOUCHE NB DISTRICT) (1868-72); FROM 1872-86 SMITH WORKED FOR THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, AND WAS ACTING ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF DURING THE ABSENCE OF SIR SANFORD FLEMING (1876-78). HIS LAST POST WAS AS A CONSULTING ENGINEER TO THE CDN GOV'T. (1886-92). MARCUS SMITH DIED IN 1901. (REF. 1)

Function

USED TO DETERMINE DIRECTION BY MEANS OF HORIZONTAL MEASUREMENT.

Technical

VERNIER POCKET COMPASS FITTED WITH FOLDING SLIT SIGHTS, AND TWO LEVELS. VERNIER AND CLAMPING NUT ALLOW SIGHTS TO BE PLACED AT AN ANGLE WITH THE LINE OF ZEROS, SO AS TO SET OFF THE DECLINATION OF THE NEEDLE AS WITH THE VERNIER COMPASS.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

.1 "W. & L.E.GURLEY/ TROY, N.Y." incised in compass face centre. Stylized north star design, and "E", "W" and "S" also incised on compass face. Raised compass circle divided 0-90-0-90-0 by single minutes; vernier divided 30-0-30 by single increments, and 30-0/60-30 in increments of 10. "21828" crudely incised in casing back..2 No markings visible..3 Paper label fastened to inside of lid reads "W. & L.E. GURLEY,/ MANUFACTURERS OF/ CIVIL ENGINEERS' AND SURVEYORS' INSTRUMENTS/ TROY, N.Y., U.S.A./ ESTABLISHED 1845.".4 No markings visible.

Missing

.1-.3 COMPLETE. COMPASS HAS BEEN DAMAGED: COMPASS CIRCLE IS IMMOVEABLE. .4 PORTION OF STRAP MISSING.

Finish

.1 BRIGHT LACQUERED BRASS FINISH; DULL OR BRUSHED SILVER METAL FACE AND CIRCLE. ONE END OF COMPASS NEEDLE HAS BEEN BLUED..2 STAFF MOUNTING HAS BRIGHT LACQUERED FINISH..3 CASE EXTERIOR HAS BEEN VARNISHED; INTERIOR IS UNFINISHED. GREEN FELT PADS COVER SELECTED INTERNAL SUPPORTS..4 DARK BROWN HEAVY LEATHER CASE FITTED WITH HANDLE & STRAP (BROKEN); TWO SUSPENSION RINGS HAVE BLACK FINISH. (ONE IS LOOSE & MARKED PT.)

Decoration

N/A