Finding the right direction

[James Massingham]

Hello to everyone on here, it's good to be aboard. I've been researching my Great Uncle's service in the Merchant Navy, during WW2, for a number of years. I've gathered together a fair few bits of the jigsaw, with some bits to still fill in.

My initial enquiry in this post is slightly of topic from research. I am wanting to purchase a compass for the period my Great Uncle was in the Merchant Navy, he served between 1939 until his death in 1943, I am really unsure as to what would be correct and I am looking for any insight that this forum can provide.

I am not set on one specific design or material, as I really don't know what would be period correct, I've looked at various compasses and would like any guidance to steer me in the right direction. I'd prefer original but if the price or availability is out of reach, then a reproduction example would be perfectly acceptable.

All help is gratefully received.

Regards

James Massingham

[Doc Vernon]

Hello James
Welcome to the site and i hope with a wee bit of time yu may get some help you are looking for
Cheers

I think that this Compass may be one to look at as its WW2 Type used on Merchant Ships ,although a hand held/pocket one /

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brass-Antiq...EAAOSwJ5BeOpoF


However i am sure there wil be better advice given on these , by those who know a lot more about Compasses than i do Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

There appears to be a sudden surge in new members attempting to find details of relatives some who have passed.

I feel this is good sign that the younger generation are taking an interest in those who served in the MN.
Well done to all.

[Ivan Cloherty]

You will need a magnetic compass, normally about 7 - 10 inches in diameter mounted on gimbals, the ones shown in #2 are military map reading compasses, although one is described as a nautical compass, it would have been useless at sea because all sea going compasses need to be mounted on gimbals, so it is mis-described, lifeboat compasses were a minituaire design of the binnacle mounted ship's compass and were normally 3 -5 inches in diameter mounted in a weatherproof brass housing, the compass was also mounted on gimbals. If you just want the compass bowl then you have no need of the gimbals and it will be the cheaper option. Gyro compasses as far as I recall were not mounted in gimbals as they worked on a different principal. one of my navigating colleagues may be able to post a picture of a magnetic compass

[j.sabourn]

Gyros of the Brown variety were mounted in gimbals and I think Sperrys were also Ivan. As regards the magnetic compass the poster is looking for if he wants the binnacle and all the works the lot he will have all those correction magnets to go with it, so if he ever drops a pin in a haystack chances are he could maybe find it. Not forgetting Lord Kelvins Balls , and the vertical piece in the front. For Correction D. ? JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

#5 Gyros were of course mounted on gimbals John, I cannot think why I ever thought they were not, only excuse is, that it's early morning combined with old age, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Remember standing for hours listening to the tick, tick, tick etc etc etc in rough weather both as a helmsman and OOW, happy days.

Note for James #1. If you are not in a hurry, then try maritime auctions, these are held at various times around the country and a chance of picking up things cheaper than nautical specialist shops or websites. Auction catalogues are normally printed 3 -4 weeks, sometimes longer, prior the auction dates, they are held over the country, in places most wouldn't associate with the sea, good luck

[j.sabourn]

As regards age Ivan I must be going backwards. On K @T putting up old posts of 8 years ago when I was in my prime , I had down 48 hours notice for a running agreement . Now that old and grey know this was incorrect as was and always was 72 hours. Wish other things worked the same way. JS

The only use I found for the lifeboat compass, which I am not complaining about, was to check the cables around the ship for reversing the polarity of the vessel against magnetic mines , in other words the de-gaussing which all new buildings had installed up until I think about 1960. The copper cables of which used to mysteriously disappear on a ship going to the knackers yard. JS

[Tony Taylor]

As regards age Ivan I must be going backwards. On K @T putting up old posts of 8 years ago when I was in my prime , I had down 48 hours notice for a running agreement . Now that old and grey know this was incorrect as was and always was 72 hours. Wish other things worked the same way. JS

The only use I found for the lifeboat compass, which I am not complaining about, was to check the cables around the ships for reversing the polarity of the vessel against magnetic mines , in other words the de-gaussing which all new buildings had installed up until I think about 1960. The copper cables of which used to mysteriously disappear on a ship going to the knickers yard. JS

very often gone long before then, nickers were at work years before scrapping

[Ivan Cloherty]

The best knickers yards were in Valparaiso!

[j.sabourn]

#8 you’ve spelt knickers wrong again Tony. Ivan s the expert on them although he keeps his preference on type and colour to himself. JS