Gurley Railroad Compass Circa 1860
This is a very nice and early Gurley Railroad compass. Gurley railroad compasses are highly collectible, and early models rarely come pop up for sale. That dating was based on the fact that Gurley started machine engraving instruments in the mid-1870s. Brain Aregood developed another way of dating Gurley instruments while he was researching and ultimately writing his definite Gurley dating book - The Complete Guide to Early W. Brian's research shows that Gurley used different dividing engines on the compass faces over the years.
Since the earliest machines were fairly simple, Gurley added guide lines around the compass face to help keep the machine cuts of consistent length. According to Brian, Gurley stopped using the guide lines around 1865.The Railroad Compass offered here has the guide lines which, according to Brian's Aregood definitive book on Gurley dating, put this instrument as 1865 or before. But it could be as late as 1865 or so. This is a large and heavy instrument. 15.5 inches long, with a 5.5 inch needle.
The instrument offered here has its original box and vanes, but with no other parts included. Both levels still hold liquid. Railroad compasses are very popular with collectors for a number of reasons. They are fairly rare for one thing.
But the invention of the railroad compass shortly afterwards led to the invention of the American standard surveying transits in the 1830s. The earliest transits were essentially railroad compasses with a transiting scope added. This is a nice and very early Railroad compass.
Everything I have related to this early railroad compass is shown in the above pics. I have more pics of this instrument (and some additional information) on my website at.
I also have some great background info on surveying compasses in general posted on my website. Keywords - Gurley, buff, Berger, Heller, Dietzgen, Draper, antique, vintage.
The item "Gurley Railroad Compass Circa 1860" is in sale since Friday, February 14, 2020. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Science & Medicine (1930-Now)\Engineering\Surveying Equipment". The seller is "kingtiger-" and is located in Stinson Beach, California.
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