GIANT BRITISH VINTAGE REFLECTING COMPASS $400.00 a 25% DISCOUNT PRICE $ 400.00 plus $35.00 Shipping and handling to contiguous 48 STATES. Reflective compasses are one of the rarest found. This one is a perfect example of a mid 20th Century BIG SHIP'S compass which was mounted in the pilot house. Presented is a very large dry card tell tale compass. It has a plastic dry card which is housed in an enormous polished brass gimbaled case that is suspended from a gimbal mount. The entire assembly shows numerous repairs made over its life, but is in excellent condition and works perfectly. ITS USE: This type compass was designed to be mounted inside a binnacle in the ship's pilot house. A mirror reflected the card's image in such a manner that the observer could easily see the ship's heading. Since the mirror reverses the image, the compass card's markings are in reverse when viewed directly. At first glance, it looks like a telltale compass which uses the same principal, but it is first designed to be viewed from above otherwise its compass card would fall off the pivot point. However, because the underside of the compass card has the normal orientation it can be read from below. This compass is a wonderful example of a high quality English instrument made in Hull, England, a port renown for its whaling and fishing fleets from the 13th Century, and the home of Trinity House and Trinity Navigation School since 1369 You may view Northrop Grumman's current technology of a reflective compass system here. http://www.sperrymarine.northropgrumman.com/Products/ Gyrocompasses/magneticcompass/systemcomponents/ THE COMPASS CARD: The North point is without embellishment. The outer ring of the compass card is graduated in degrees from 0 to 360. The inner subdivisions are in Cardinal Points, N.S,E,W, and quarter points, NE,SE,SW,NW, are all of equal size, and then 1/2 points, 1/8 points and finally 1/16 points are noted. There are 32 points on the compass card, each being 11 1/4 degrees. MARKINGS: "H.S.T.M.I. Co. Ltd." and "HULL" CONDITION: This ruggedly made antique compass is of all brass construction with a stout gimbals. Its condition shows numbers solder repairs whose silver color contrasts nicely with the golden brass. All surfaces have been recently polished with a nice rich golden patina. The compass works properly. The card has a minor age crack at 320 degrees. Compass as it is viewed from the bottom Side View Bottom of compass card showing magnets DIMENSIONS: Diameter of bowl 10 1/2" Diameter of card 8" Depth of compass 5 1/8" WEIGHT 15 1/2 lbs OUR GUARANTEE OF SATISFACTION: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned if without damage, within five days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. A prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Unfortunately, no refund can be made for the cost of shipping, packaging and handling unless we are at fault.   International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean. FLAT RATE SHIPPING & PACKING to 48 contiguous States $35.00 This represents a very scarce example of a vintage reflective compass from the mid 20 th Century. Buy this magnificent collector's compass Now! Copyright 2011 - 2007 by Land And Sea Collection ™ . All Rights Reserved.