Antique nautical compass
Posted by quichedeflurry@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 15 comments
I recently travelled to Japan and purchased this antique nautical compass at a local pawn shop in the Kanto region.
What I ascertained previous to purchase:
1:) Weight: 17 kg
2:) Make: Frame and Stand: Cast iron (It's been painted over but the surface texture of the outer frame seems more like hammer-forged iron rather than steel);
Gimbal and compass housing: Heavy cast iron // Glass top cover // Liquid filled compass;
Supplementary: Hinged compartments on either side with wooden slabs (wood and brass are commonly used for compass binnacles) as they are nonmagnetic. But I don't know if that's what these slabs are. Because of water bloat I can't remove them to check for little bits of magnet or steel on the inside. I'm guessing that if these slabs are binnacles, you take 1-4 out on either side to adjust for any surrounding magnetic interference?
There are 2 jiggedy spin knobs on the lower side of the outer frame (like a manual wristwatch's crown) placed at a 90 degree orientation from each other (one at 3 o'clock and one at 6 o'clock when viewed from above). I believe these are used to adjust horizontal level.
A knob switch also sits on the side of the frame, which I believe is used to lock the compass in place when not in use. All three of these knobs are painted solid and cannot be moved at present.
3: Manufacturer: The compass logo looks like TSK stacked on top of each other. There are no other indications such as a serial number or manufacturer information.
I searched compassmuseum.com and Stocker & Yale was promising, but their logo is just an S.
Since I purchased this in Japan, I searched for relevant Japanese manufacturers and found Tsurumi Seiki, a compass manufacturer established in 1928, with T.S.K. as their logo. I mailed them for information, which I am still waiting on.
But something seems off. The logo really looks European or American. I don't know much about compasses, but another thing I find odd is that all those little arrows seem to be pointing randomly rather than in specific increments. Another thing I find odd is that zinc and copper were both mined in Japan for many years and so why didn't they use brass instead of wood? If it is a Tsurumi Seiki nautical compass from the late 1920s to 1940s, it may have been used for WW1 or early WW2 ironclads or navy ships, but I have no other reference to go on. It seems older to me, from around the turn of the 1900s, but I have no clue.
Can anyone help me? Is it a fake? If it is, then kudos to the forgers, because that's a lot of work. There is also blue rust around the rim of the wooden slab compartments, which is common with nautical equipment due to salt water... but I tasted it and it wasn't salty. Does the chemical reaction of blue rust remove the salty flavor over time?
I think it's valuable, but I don't know. I don't plan on selling it though. It's mesmerizing. I'm just looking for the story behind it, so I can daydream in detail.
Please help!
whyrumalwaysgone@reddit
Our family used to own one of these. The housing often gets changed over the years (we swapped ours out). Sorry I can't tell you brand, but if any of the external wood can be removed you may be able to get to serial numbers or a makers mark. Also there may be some small adjustable iron weights attached that can be used to calibrate it (reduce deviation), look for little red or green balls
quichedeflurry@reddit (OP)
Wow! Thank you very much. I will try extracting the wooden slabs if I can. Thank you for the restoration advice, too. Ah, so it's not a fake compass overlay. It all makes sense. A 22.5 degree offset. Nice!
The spin knobs I mentioned in the main post, are each attached to a set of stick magnets in an A angle at the bottom of the main housing case. My dad's an electrician and he says that they're tips are brought close together or separated using the knobs for slight adjustments. I still don't understand what the main flick switch is for—maybe a light?—but I found the manufacturer and will ask them for details.
whyrumalwaysgone@reddit
Switch will be for a compass illumination light, useful for night watches. The magnets are for calibration, instead of the red and green iron balls found on larger ships
quichedeflurry@reddit (OP)
Bwahaha! Lord Kelvin balls? That's hilarious. A physics community dick joke of the 1880s?
Wow, you used a similar compass for nearly 100 years? Now that's a proper family treasure.
You should write some old stories in a journal and pass them to the next generation as a set.
I believe the compass is the very beating heart of any naval vessel.
Thanks for the Wikipedia link, too. It looks fascinating even though it's all a little over my head; I was never really good at math.
But it's amazing how the British invented all this navigational hullabaloo. Staring at the sea must have felt like how we modern folks look at the stars. But they actually figured out and overcame all their challenges, while we're still weaving our tech to overcome ours.
Maybe robots and A.I. will be the key in setting up bases and plant-based oxygen farms before us weak sacks of boney jello can follow suit.
I did a bit more research and it seems that the Japanese stopped using English in everything during WW2. That means all their compasses would've been in kanji characters. My hunch is that this one was made before then. The compass itself is around 6-inches diameter, which is larger than most of the ones I've come across. It seems like it was made for a bigger ship but in a compact design. Maybe it was for a WW1 or pre WW2 submarine? Those wooden slabs will probably give me more info if I can extract them. I'm thinking of pouring oil into the compartment to see if I can get them out. But first I'm gonna contact the manufacturers and ask them for a copy of any schematics they might still have, just so that I don't break anything.
Thank you for all your help!
quichedeflurry@reddit (OP)
Oh, cool! Thanks man! Would you have any info on the wooden slabs?
Oh, so it's for smaller ships? So, no chance it could be from a great Japanese ironclad like the Kotetsu, or maybe a spare compass of the awesome battleship Yamato?
Dr_StrangeloveGA@reddit
I don't think it would have been open like that and left side in the third picture looks replaced with the wood that is there now. I agree something just kind of seems off with this. The needle is bent for sure I'm not saying it's not authentic vintage, I think it's missing some pieces and may have cobbled together from parts.
quichedeflurry@reddit (OP)
Yeah, you're right about the cover. There's a groove around the rim, like some trash cans have, so I'm missing the top. But the housing is legit and in line with turn of the century (1900) technology. It has stick magnets along the bottom that when you twist a knob on the outside, moves their tips closer or further apart for minyute adjustments. The wood planks may have been a consumable accessory that gets changed when ruined by water warping but the casing looks water tight and if taken care of properly, may have protected the wood from bacteria and rot. The needle matched up with my phone compass to the T after I adjusted gimbal slippage. Everything looks legit except for the missing lid!
This is the most complete compass of this era that I can find on the internet.
Dr_StrangeloveGA@reddit
Nice looking compass though. I think most of these portable types end up being family heirlooms, sailors end up with them and they just stay with the family.
You think about how many compasses similar to this were made over the years, what 7500 or so Victory ships were made during WWII that would have had multiple of these plus binnacle compasses.
Millions were made over the years and still continue to be, you just don't see them that much. I had an opportunity to buy a German WWII binnacle compass for $850 forty years ago but that may have well as been $8 mill at the time.
Guygan@reddit
Post a picture.
quichedeflurry@reddit (OP)
Okay, sorry. The photos didn't load...I edited to load.
Guygan@reddit
Compasses of that vintage usually have the manufacturer and serial number molded into or stamped into the metal (bronze) housing. Take it out of the box an look carefully.
quichedeflurry@reddit (OP)
Okay, thank you very much! I'm not home at the moment but I'll have a look see later and post.
quichedeflurry@reddit (OP)
My dad was able to find the logo using A.I. tools. It belongs to a Japanese manufacturer called Tokyo Keiki Seijousho (Tokyo Measurement Gauging Instrument Manufacturer). A company founded in 1896. This looks to be one of their earlier models but I'm still researching.
But there is no maker's mark or serial numbers anywhere. It could've been during WW1 and unnecessary as they were the only manufacturer in the industry.
This catalog probably has details, but I can't find it for purchasing anywhere.
retrobob69@reddit
Need a picture or it didn't happen
quichedeflurry@reddit (OP)
Okay, sorry. The photos didn't load...I edited to load.