Item ST 29086 Compass - Kelvin & James White Ltd, Portable Marine Type, Glasgow & London, circa 1910

Summary

Portable liquid-filled gymbal-mounted compact boat compass, incorporating Captain Chetwynd's patent improvements. Designed for use in ship's lifeboats, yachts and small watercraft. Manufactured by Kelvin & James White Ltd., Glasgow & London, Great Britain, serial no.47513, about 1910.

Captain Louis Wentworth Pakington Chetwynd (1866-1914) of the Royal Navy patented this compass dial in 1906. The design incorporated a small electric lamp or candle holder mounted in the side of the case to illuminate the dial at night.

Kelvin & James White Ltd was formed as a public company in 1900, to acquire the Glasgow-based scientific and navigational instrument making business originally established by James White (1824-1884), in 1850. White had long and highly productive working relationship with William Thomson (later-Sir William, then Lord Kelvin) (1824-1907), who held the chair as Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow University from 1846-1899. White was involved from the commencement of his business in the supply and maintenance of apparatus for Thomson's university laboratory and worked with him on many experimental constructions. By 1854, White was commercially producing electrical instruments such as electrometers and electrical balances based on Thomson's designs. During 1870 White was largely responsible for equipping Sir William's laboratory in the new University premises at Gilmorehill and from 1876 was producing compasses specifically designed for use on metal ships by Sir William, which subsequently became an important part of the firm's business. The British Admiralty adopted the Thomson's patent compass as a standard for Royal Navy use in 1889. In 1899 Lord Kelvin resigned his university chair and joined Kelvin & James White Ltd as a director the following year. The company established a London office around 1904, and following Lord Kelvin's death became Kelvin Bottomley & Baird Ltd, in 1913. During WWII, the firm formed a joint venture with competitors Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd and in 1947 the two firms amalgamated as Kelvin Hughes Ltd.

Physical Description

Circular metal floating dial compass, enclosed in a liquid [oil?]-filled gymbal-mounted circular brass body inside a square wooden travelling box or case. The compass body has a circular glass window over the dial, and the wooden case has been fitted with a clear perspex lid, which is not part of the original object. The wooden case has a brass ring-pull type pivoting handle on either side and a small hinged door at the front, on the back of which is printed a paper instruction label.