The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1011.2012.1
Mirror Sighting Compass
26/09/2012
Hermione Cooper
26/09/2012
Base plate compass with hinged mirrored lid and carrying cord.
plastic, metal
10(l) x 7(w) cms
1
On lid "MADE BY SILVA STOCKHOLM 60 SWEDEN " and the Silva trademark of a fir tree with "SILVA" below.
On baseplate "TYPE 15T THE RANGER"
clear and black and silver
Silva
Sweden
Having created/invented the first base plate (orienteering) compass in 1928, Swedish orienteer Gunnar Tillander formed the Silva company in 1932 with fellow Swedes:Alvar Alvid and Bjorn Kjellstrom - Silva is latin for wood/trees and because Tillander spent a lot of time orienteering in the forests the name seemed appropriate.
The first mirror sight version of the compass came out in 1939 and it's a later version - 1970's - that we have here in the collection. Well used by Mick Tighe's mountain guiding outfit, Nevis Guides,it was retired in the 1990's and ultimately found its way into the collection.
Donated by Mick Tighe
26/09/2012
26/09/2012
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
26/09/2012