An exception to this generalization, and an extremely fine 

 example of the whittler's art, is a surveying compass (fig. 35) in 

 the collection of Mr. Preston R. Bassett of Ridgefield, Connecticut. 

 This is a comparatively small instrument made of maple; the body 

 was painted red. It is carved entirely by means of a jackknife, 

 and the sighting bars are also whittled to shape and mortised 

 permanently into the frame. A lid covering the dial is carved from 

 soft pine. The compass dial is handdrawn in black ink, and the 

 North point is painted in the form of a decorative fleur-de-lis in 

 red and green. A homemade ring of pewter surrounds the compass 

 rose at needle level. This is graduated in degrees, with every 10° 

 marked, stamped with steel punches. The ring is set into the base 

 by means of wooden pegs. The steel needle is nicely cut, and it is 

 probably the only part purchased by the maker. 



This is unquestionably a homemade instrument produced by 

 a skillful whittler early in the 18th century. 



Compass Cards 



A fact that becomes apparent in a comparison of the surviving 

 examples of wooden surveying compasses made in New England 

 is the similarity of the compass cards used by makers in the seaport 

 cities (see fig. 36). The compass card in each of these instances 

 is the type designed for a mariner's compass, bearing a star of 32 

 rays to mark the 32 points of the heavens. The North point is 

 designated with an elaborate fleur-de-lis, and the East is emphasized 

 with scrollwork. These are features which were not designed pri- 

 marily for land surveying. Presumably, these makers had a quanti- 

 ty of engraved or printed compass cards that they used in both ma- 

 rine and land surveying compasses. This is true in the case of the 

 compasses made by James and Joseph Halsy, Greenough, Clough, 

 Warren, Thaxter, Dupee, Breed, and Bowles. On the other hand, 

 the dial of Huntington's compass was painted directly on the 

 wood, and the semicircumferentors do not utilize the marine 

 compass card. Obviously these makers resorted to this practice 

 for reasons of economy — to reduce costs of engraving and printing, 

 and using the same card for both types of instruments that they 

 produced. 



Trade Signs 



An interesting sidelight in the study of the makers of scientific 

 instruments is the advertising they used, particularly the design 



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