i recently purchased a "Phelps and Gurley" surveying compass (circa 1845-1852) that is in poor condition but mostly there. the box is in great shape, but probably not the original since the label inside is for W. & L. E. Gurley company. the instrument is damaged...cover glass is shattered but all there, a sight vane that has been compressed and slightly bent, the band that holds the glass cover has bee soldered in several places, the stem that attaches to the ball joint has been soldered back on, and a few other items. it looks like it probably took a tumble at some point in its life and someone tried to "repair" it. actually, they did a pretty good job.
i picked this jewel up for $225. heck, the box may be valued over $100. i'm wondering what the bottom dollar is that anyone might have seen on a compass that has been damaged.
not looking to sell it, just curious.
Frank Shelton, post: 366319, member: 272 wrote: i recently purchased a "Phelps and Gurley" surveying compass (circa 1845-1852) that is in poor condition but mostly there.
I'd say that the value of old beater instruments is probably in who used them and what they were used for. Do you have any idea whose compass that was when it was actually in use?
nope. bought it from a guy at the Warrenton flea market a few weeks ago. he said he had obtained it from someone in Houston that told him not to do anything w/ it repair wise. poor guy thought it was from the early 1900's.
having it repaired and restored would increase it's value, but i don't know that it would be enough to justify the repairs on a pure money basis. i've found one company online in Colorado that does restorations, but i'm going to check w/ a few folks around here if they know of any others. i've spent money in more foolish ways, so it may happen.
the only parts left are the box, compass, vanes, and the screws that attach the vanes. i have a slight idea of what else would go in the box by looking at some online museums.
the crew and i will be going to the High Plains seminar at the end of the month and i'll take it to compare w/ what they have there. ought to be interesting.
photos please!
caution about "restoration" ... that is a high skill, pretty easy to irreparably destroy and diminish the value. best example is the car guys.
Yeah...yeah....I think that one was the one that Abraham Lincoln used.
Just kidding, I would think you would have to have some really good documentation or other quality evidence of whose it was if you were to go that route (I know you aren't).
I have a pretty cool compass myself, but I don't even know who made it. I also have the box and a carrying case for it. I wonder how you would go about getting a specific value on it. This one is one of my dad's antiques he passed on to me. (you can see it below in front of the chaining pins, and the old surveyor's chain.)
Same here....I wouldn't be interested in selling it. Actually, I would like to get a staff that fits it and field-test it a bit.
sorry, the 'puter said my picture file is too big
There's a company up in Ohio that does some pretty amazing restorations, I'll see if I can find them. There was a thread on here about them a year or so back.
Edit - Pretty sure this is them right here: http://www.colonialinstruments.com/