Militair kompas en clinometer door Hicks, Londen, ca. 1900

Een kompas en een clinometer, door J. Hicks, Londen, voor militair gebruik. In werkzame staat, in leren foedraal. Beide instrumenten gemerkt: 'Hicks, London'. Afmeting kompas: 103 x 72 mm, doorsnede clinometer 72 mm. Afmeting leren foedraal 120 x 58 mm. (Verkocht)

A prismatic military compass and clinometer combination set, made by J. Hicks of Hatton Garden, London, in leather case. This type of compass was a development of Schmalcalder's Patent compass of 1812 which introduced the idea of using an optical prism, combined with a sighting vane, to improve accuracy when taking bearings. This compass was made by J. Hicks of Hatton Garden, London, a well-known Victorian scientific instrument maker. It has a brass case, bright green compass card, a jewelled pivot, an optical prism, and a folding sighting vane. It also has a manual brake and an automatic transit lock, which is operated when the sighting vane is folded down. The distinctive bright green card design was intended to enhance the night marching capabilities of the compass, and this type of compass was often used by the British Army from around 1860 to 1900. The detachable clinometer is a Watkin's Patent design, often to be found in this type of military combination instrument. It is marked 'Watkin’s Clinometer patent 217' and 'No. 5701'. The patent was originally granted in 1884. This type of clinometer has an internal pendulum and scale which rotate under gravity. When a feature is sighted through the eye hole in the side of the case the angle of inclination or depression can be seen alongside in the reflection from a mirror.  (sold)