Antique Skylight Binnacle New Nickle Plating

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ANTIQUE SKYLIGHT BINNACLE
  NEW NICKLE PLATING
by John E. Hand & Son

Front of vintage John Hand skylight binnacle image

Presented is a large size skylight binnacle that follows a 100 year old design. It was made by the famous
John E. Hand & Sons Company of Philadelphia. This one likely dates from the 1950’s. It has six glass panels, with
a Hand 6 inch gimbaled compass stamped on the compass bezel with Serial Number 6209. Because of their high cost of manufacture,
binnacles like this were only found on the most expensive yachts and therefore, only infrequently come on the market.

This
one is is about 3 inches taller than the one PERKO used to make and is the same height, but 1/2 inches wider than today’s
E.S. Ritchie recreations that may be purchased new.

BOGART’
S SANTANABogart & Bacall in Santana with skylight binnacle image:
 Binnacles such as these became very popular starting in the 1920’s. Their popularity may
have increased after one was seen aboard the motor vessel “Santana” in the movie “Key Largo”
(1948) staring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
Bogie also had one in the cockpit of his famous yawl Santana. Here it is shown
covered with a chrome hood. Our ketch Bagheera was fitted with one and served us well during seven years of ocean cruising.

PERKO
discontinued making them about 1954, and Danforth in 2010. Today, the only source of skylight binnacles is
from E.S. Ritchie. Their’s are priced on the street at $2195.00, but arguably use thinner metal stampings, but
have the advantage of a more advanced compass.

 

The base and the skylight hood shown apart image

CONDITION: All the metal work has been re-plated and may be considered new. The over plating
makes the maker’s name tag unreadable. All the glass was replaced. The compass is original and the fluid has been
drained for shipping. The compass card is not properly balanced and at times hangs up. Unless it is going back to sea that
is a good way to leave it. .

DIMENSIONS: Overall 13 1/2″H x 10 1/4″W D                             
WEIGHT
11 pounds                      
Diameter of compass card  4 3/4″                                            
Diameter of compass 6″

Compas card fitted to the John Hand skylight binnacle image
      Compass card imprinted Hand, Philadelphia, USA under the North pointer

 

Base showing the tilted compass card image
          The compass card is tilted in the bowl and their is no fluid

 

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BRIEF HISTORY: The John E. Hand & Sons Company was founded in Philadelphia
in 1873, quickly gaining a reputation as competent manufacturers of nautical instruments and compass adjusters. The company
founder, John Enos Hand, is is reported to be “the first man in America to adjust a compass aboard an iron ship.”

The Hand Company built navigational equipment for all varieties of ships, and operated a chain of retail outlets with
service facilities in key ports, including Baltimore and New Orleans. Until 1956, these outlets sold Hand instruments
as well as other nautical accoutrement’s and provided compass adjusting services. Additionally, John E. and his two sons,
John L. and Bartram, were inventors, who patented design improvements for numerous instruments that were employed in the company’s
work.

 

The back of the John Hand skylight binnace image
          The back of the compass showing the flawless new nickel
plating

The company was primarily involved in commercial
shipping until the late 1930s when the United States military began preparations for World War II. Though the Hand Company
never completely abandoned its involvement with private industry, after World War II, military contracts continued to be their
major business. Of note are the wrist compass, they developed for the Navy beginning in the 1950’s, and the Mark VII Model
5 Navy Standard Binnacle.

Though it moved numerous times, the Hand Company headquarters and factory remained in the Delaware Valley, occupying several
buildings in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. Maintaining its central office in Philadelphia well into the 1900’s,
the factory was moved to Atco, New Jersey around the turn of the twentieth century and subsequently to Haddonfield, New Jersey.
It moved one last time in the 1960’s to Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

In 1997, California-based Sunset Cliffs Merchandising Corporation purchased the Hand Company and all its assets for a small
amount, but did not make use of its brand name.

This
rare Skylight or Cathedral binnacle is almost ready to go to sea or it is suitable as a gift or as an addition
to any collection of fine marine artifacts.
 

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Shipping & Packaging

The cost of shipping, packing, handling, and insurance to your destination, will be calculated point to point and is an additional charge. You may email us to get these costs. We price our shipping honestly, but we expect to be reimbursed for the nominal cost of packaging materials and handling.

Our Unconditional 'No Nonsense' Guarantee

If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges are refundable if due to our error within the continental United States.

International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers worldwide.

Standard Forms of Payment

Bank wire transfer, cashier’s check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. Our prices are quoted net to us so that the use of credit cards or PayPal incur extra charges. Terms on overseas sales are different.

Established in 2003

Celebrating 18 Years of Exellence in Nautical Antiques

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