Just bought an old Alexander Megarey compass from the wife of a deceased surveyor friend and was wondering if anyone had any info on it (well that and I just wanted to show it off a little). From what I can find out, Mr. Magarey was born in Ireland in 1790 and died November 7, 1850.
Well it's useless!
The W and E are backwards!
I'll take it off your hands.:-)
(Everyone know why?)
He worked outa Brooklyn making instruments from 1827 - 1850. Oregon Historical Society has similar model. Beauty
Just had a K&E down off the shelf yesterday, showin' it to the hands. None of them could figure out why the compass was "bakerds". Actually, only one out of three noticed it...
does it have to do with smoke and mirrors? mainly mirrors?
where does the data collector plug in?
never mind, i had to look at our old compass to figure it out
ours is missing the data collector port too.
We have an 1890 Gurley Railroad compass. I didn't know what a railroad compass was until I looked it up. It has two verniers on it for turning angles and the sight veins for pointing with a ball and socket joint.
Old compass' rock!
:whistle: Don't know but have been told that when those old compass were used, they used a different North than we do today. Suggest you send it to me for recalibration to match the times. To get it right I will need to monitor it a very long time. After all it took time to get it settled in to where it is now.
jud
Actually, the compass hasn't been re-calibrated since the last polar shift occurred. Now that the north/south poles have switched, you'll have to send it to me for recalibration. It will take me until 12/12/12 to have the calibration completed.
JBS
Because the needle seeks north?;-)
Good find, Jeff!
I am glad it went to someone who could appreciate it.
It looks well cared for too.
Here's why.
You "set up" over a point and point the sites down the line.
See the fancy arrow on the N, that points down your line. Now you merely read the (magnetic) bearing directly at the "pointer".
In the 2nd picture, the bearing is N.19º 10' 20"W., ± (OK, it's close to 19)
Quicker than a nano second DC.:gammon:
