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Verners Pattern VIII Prismatic Compass

Technical Information

Catalogue No: C1713
Category: Vintage and Antique
Object Type: Indicator/Instrument
Object Name: Verners Pattern VIII Prismatic Compass
Part No: None
Serial No: 73022
Manufacturer: Elliott Bros (London) Ltd
Division: Not Applicable
Platform(s):
Year of Manufacture: 1917
Dimensions: Width (mm): 55
Height (mm): 20
Depth (mm): 85
Weight (g): 151
Location: Cupboard CH (Display 3) [Main Store]
Inscription(s):

Marked 'F-L' and 'No 73022', '1917'

Notes:

Verners Pattern compasses are both incredibly popular with collectors as well being a compass that can still be practically and easily used today. The most common models are the Verners Pattern VII and Verners Pattern VIII which were mainly used during World War 1. Their basic construction is a prismatic dry card compass with a both a momentary bearing lock and transit lock. As a compass they are lighter than the Mk III prismatic that superceded them in WWII and are generally considered easier to use.
Colonel William Willoughby Cole Verner was born in 1852 and commissioned into The Rifle Brigade in 1874, retiring in 1904. He served on the staff in the Egyptian campaign of 1884-85 and during the Boer War. He died in 1922.
Whilst the basic prismatic compass design has its origins in Schmalcalder's patent of 1812 (Patent No 3545), Verners Pattern is a significant development which can be traced back to 1895.
In 1895 F Barker produced a Verner Compass (nos 327) and J H Steward produced both a Verner compass, a Major Verners Sergeants compass and a Major W Verner's Patent Night Marching Compass which were all pocket compasses and not prismatic compasses. All had distinctive compass card markings.
Around 1905 the term Verners Pattern with a model number was used starting with a Verners Pattern V. Generally, the compass card is the main area of change in the early models and some of the basic features are evident from the model V through to the VIII and the IX of WWII.
This is a Verners Patent Verners Pattern Prismatic Compass VIII in a nice Leather case. The main design change in the Mk VIII from the previous design is that an arm fitted to the top lid operates the transit lock when the lid is closed.
The compass was acquired with the Collection of the late Ron Howard and noted as being made by Elliott Bros. However, there is no marking to indicate the manufacturer but it is known that Elliott Bros made such items. The compass case is marked F-L which indicated French Ltd (F-L or T French & Son Ltd a London company) and they too are listed in various sources as a maker of these instruments. Here again other sources state that French Ltd made the leather case but not the instrument.
This type of pocket compass is often called a marching compass, as it was widely used by the Military.
The instrument has engraving on the base edges and top. There is a name on the leather case that cannot quite be identified (it could be Heath?). Many of these items were acquired by Army Officers and this could be a name.
See: http://www.compasscollector.com/

The item comes with a leather case the dimensions are :
W83 x D105 x H30.
The Compass was donated by the family of the Late Ron Howard in 2019

The Ron Howard Archive and Collection

The centre of the archive is contained in fifteen chronological ring binder files (1951 - 1993), containing photographs, programmes, news clippings, technical papers and correspondence chronicling the history of Elliott Brothers and the subsequent constituent companies of Marconi and GEC. They record Ron Howard's involvement with the development of, among others, the VC-10, Boeing 747 and Concorde, with an emphasis on automatic flight controls systems, one of his key areas of interest.  The material was sent by  the family of the late Ron Howard and received by the RAA in 2019. A description of the items and a short biography of Ron Howard can be seen in Document D0618

 

The Collection has a number of quite early scientific instruments and some personal items 

RAA Catalogue No. and Description

C1713
Verners Pattern Prismatic Compass VIII. Elliott Compass in Leather case

C1714
Colonel William Willoughby Cole Verner was born in 1852 and commissioned into The Rifle Brigade in 1874, retiring in 1904. He served on the staff in the Egyptian campaign of 1884-85 and during the Boer War. He died in 1922. This is a Verner Cavalry Sketch Board, by Elliott Brothers, London, c.1887

C1715
Ivory rectangular (4 1/2”) Protractor (top) made by Elliott Bros.C1716
A six-inch ivory sector dating from between 1854 and 1880 made by Elliott Bros.
C1717
A Telescope. No makers name can be seen.
C1723
A Galvanometer made by Elliott Bros London
C1724
A set of Draughting Instruments in a case made by Elliott Bros
C1725
A compass manufactured by Elliott Brothers between 1854 and 1865. #228 has a Gold spindle.
C1726
A compass manufactured by Elliott Brothers between 1854 and 1865. This one  has no serial No. but has a silver spindle and is marked L.F.Heath
C1739
Elliott Desk ornament.
C1741
SBAC Past President Badge
C1742
An Aneroid Barometer with its leather case. The double ended pocket Aneroid Barometer is signed by John Henry Steward. It has a leather case.
C1743
An Aneroid Barometer calibrated in ins Hg and Feet as an Altimeter There is no makers name. It has a gold case and a leather case.
C1744
Accelerometer
C1745
Airspeed Indicator
C1746
Ron Howard's personal Flying Helmet with Oxygen mask and Goggles.

C1747
 A Telegraph Lineman's Galvanometer (circa 1910?) made by the India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Co at Telegraph Works Silvertown, London

C1748
An Abney Level with Protractor and Spirit Level used in surveying
C1749
An Aneroid Barometer with the  dial  marked 'Compensated' and is calibrated from 15 to 31 inches of HG and 0 to 20,000feet.The case was made by J.B.Brooks
C1750
Thomas Parnell (fl. 1784-1811) was a mathematical and nautical instrument maker in London. This is a Spring Balance in a case.
C1788
Desk clock and Pen stand
C1797
Barometer in Silver case with no markings. The Barometer has a hard leather case.
C1798
Gunnery instrument, for adjusting the angle of the barrel
C1799
A Barometer/Weather Finder
C1800
Sand Timer. No makers name can be seen. A 14 second ships log timer.

C1802
A Spring Scale calibrated in Lbs made by George Salter & Co
C1803
A set of Draughting Instruments in a case by Charles Baker of 544 High Holborn est 1765.
C1805
Possibly part of another instrument and has a small optics
C1806
A Button Hook and Leather stitch marking tool.
C1807
A Marching  Compass Mk1 with a black bakelite case.  T.G & Co Ltd
C1808
Probably an Award
 

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