Figure 36. — Unsigned wooden surveying compass, with an interesting example 

 of a mariner's compass card. 



of their signboards. The most popular symbol appears to have 

 been the quadrant, as the phrase "At the Sign of the Quadrant" 

 is found repeatedly in advertising in several of the seaport cities 

 of the 18th century. 



In Providence, William Hamlin used the designation in the 

 first part of the 19th century, while Philadelphian John Gould 

 featured the sign at the end of the 18th century. During an even 

 earlier period, William Hinton designated his address to be "At 

 Hadley's Quadrant" in New York City. Both Gould and Hinton 

 were English, which may have had some bearing on their selection 

 of the quadrant as a symbol of their merchandise. 



Other signboards were as colorful, such as Jonathan Dakin's 

 "Sign of the Hand and Beam," James Youle's "Sign of the Cross- 

 Knives and Gun," and Charles Kugler's house in Philadelphia 

 with its "Sign of the Seven Stars" (that is. Great Bear), which 

 housed the shops of several instrument makers. 



The two most interesting and significant of the instrument 

 makers' trade signs were those advertising the shop of Samuel 

 Thaxter. The first of these was the carved wooden figure of 

 "The Little Admiral," which was a favorite landmark at No. 1 

 Long Wharf in Boston for almost a century and a half. It was 



76 



