Objects Database

Ex Military Metal Compass Leather Case

Accession Number

025.2007.2

Object Name

Ex Military Metal Compass Leather Case

Created

22/11/2007

Creator

Maxine Willett

Accession Date

22/11/2007

Brief Description

Compass case, leather, oval shaped carry case for compass SMHC 025a with hinged lid and shoulder strap, visible stitching around seams, stamped on one side "ADEZ CLIFF, WALSALL, 1918", cross with dividing line through centre, ↘, on opposite side inked text "A W, R S F", metal buckle fastens case shut, brown.

Materials

leather

Dimensions

9 (w) x 11.5 (l) (68 inc strap) x 4.8 (d) cm

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

ADEZ CLIFF, WALSALL, 1918", cross with dividing line through centre, ↘, A W, R S F

Colour

brown

Maker

A Cliff

Object Production Place

Walsall

Object Production Date

1918

Provenance

The Verner's compass takes its name from Colonel Verner who was born in 1852 and commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1874. The first prismatic compass had been patented back in 1812 (patent no. 3545) by someone called Schmalcalder and Verner's was basically a much improved version which was popular during WW I, initially with the MK VII version and latterly with the MKIII, which began production in 1917, the main change being the simple, but very effective locking arm which stopped the compass dial moving around during transit. This lovely example of compass and case was bought by Mick Tighe at an auction in Perth, during the 1980's, for around 60, and interestingly perhaps we see a similar one for sale in 2010 for 159. We don't think Verner would actually have made the compass, and it seems that F-L or French Limited were the manufacturers. It does seem that Adez Cliff of Walsall made the case and the owner had the initials A.W. Presumably A.W. was a male, and seems to have been in the RSF - Royal Scottish Fusiliers(?)

Acquisition Date

22/11/2007

Condition

Good

Condition Check Date

22/11/2007

Normal Location

Bohuntin

Current Location

Bohuntin

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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