Objects Database

Recta Sighting Compass

Accession Number

1135.2014.1

Object Name

Recta Sighting Compass

Created

10/06/2014

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

10/06/2014

Brief Description

Pull out Recta Sighting Compass in metal case with hanging cord

Materials

metal, perspex, cotton

Dimensions

6.5(l) x 4.5 (w) x 1.8(d) cms when closed

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"RECTA WATCH CO. BIENNE MADE IN SWITZERLAND PATENTED"

Colour

black

Maker

Recta

Object Production Place

Switzerland

Provenance

If you are interested in compasses there is an excellent online compass museum called Compassipedia to which we are indebted for much of the following information.
Muller and Vaucher were a Swiss company formed way back in 1897 and it seems that a descendant of the original founder called Eric Vaucher created the revolutionary Recta Matchbox compass back in 1940, having been rather unimpressed by the compasses being used at the time by the Swiss Army. He got a patent in 1941 and the Swiss Army issued it to their troops immediately.
Recta compasses made their way to the UK in the 1950's and 60's and they seem to have been pretty popular amongst the mountaineering fraternity at the time - unsurprisingly given the quality and simplicity of use. The various models were prefixed by the letters 'DP' followed by a number and whilst we are not sure which model this one is we are fairly sure it's from the 1950's.
Recta was acquired by the Finnish company Suunto in 1996 and all manufacturing seems to have been transferred to Finland in 2009. Recta compasses of this vintage were selling for around £20 on the internet in 2014.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Ian Parrish

Acquisition Date

10/06/2014

Condition Check Date

10/06/2014

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

10/06/2014

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