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Serial Number:
Type: Vernier Compass
Circle Diameter: 7-1/4"
Needle length: 5-7/8"
Distance between sights: 14-13/16"
Sight Height: 6-1/2"
Overall
Height: 8-1/2"
Found: March 13, 1967 - Bethesda, MD. Bought from O. F. Baker, 5057
Bradley Blvd, Apt 2
Condition: Very Good - restored
CEH
Inventory# C22
Excerpted from “Makers of Surveying Instruments of America since 1700”
by Charles Smart, 1967, Vol 2, p. 202:
GEORGE B. GRAVES (1792 – 1873)
Winchester, Virginia
George B. Graves was born in Loudoun County June 1792.
“A memorandum of articles belonging to the estate of Goldsmith Chandlee
deceased, sold the 10th day of the 4th month 1821, 66 items were
purchased by George Graves for the sum of $268.94-3/4 or 17% of the
total sale of $1607.48-3/4", pages 110 - 117, Six Quaker Clock Makers by
E. E. Chandlee.”
It is believed that the above George Graves was George B. Graves and
that he made a portion of his vernier compasses from some of the parts
bought at this sale.
The compass cover is engraved Wm. S. Marye Hillside Page Co. Va. William
Staige Marye is buried in a small family graveyard about three miles
from Luray, Virginia. The Marker at the grave is inscribed W. S. Marye
Died Dec. 21 1895 age 54 years. Mr. Marye was a carpenter and a
surveyor. Assuming that he was at least twenty five years old when he
bought the compass, then it could be assumed that this particular
compass was made about 1860.
The George B. Graves vernier compass in the Gurley Museum of Surveying
Instruments is the gift of Mr.
Cecil E. Hanson of Pasadena, California.
It is 14-13/16" overall, length of needle 5-7/8", one level vial,
outkeeper 0 - 16, sights are 6-1/2" in height.
Mr. Graves died near Winchester 29 January 1873.
Excerpted from “Catalog of the Charles E. Smart Collection of Antique
Surveying Instruments, 1996, p 90:
US11 GEORGE B. GRAVES,
Winchester, VA, Surveyors Vernier Compass,
ca. 1860, R8, C9R
George B. Graves was born in Loudoun Co VA, June 1792. Little is
known of him and his making of compasses. In 1821 he bought parts of
compasses from the estate of Goldsmith Chandlee. It is believed that
many of the compasses Graves made were largely, or in part, made up of
the Chandlee parts. It also appears that other compasses, this one
included, were made to resemble Chandlee's work. The workmanship is not
of Chandlee's quality. Graves died near Winchester, VA, January 29,
1873.
The silvered compass contains a flat needle with an external lifter
actuated by a knob under the plate. The face is heavily decorated
"Winchester" with engraving and punch work. " G.B.Graves" and are
engraved on either side of "S" on the face. There are two fancy
outkeepers at east and west on the face, marked "P" and "M", actuated by
knobs beneath the plate. There is a single brass spirit level set in the
face at north. The sight vanes have baroque pointed tops, similar to the
ones on the compass by Goldsmith Chandlee (US7). The vernier for
magnetic correction is operated by loosening the clamp on the south arm
and rotating the compass. The proper rotation is read from the vernier
scale on the north arm. There is an "L/T" table engraved on the south
arm (see US7). A brass cover fits over the compass, engraved with
concentric circles. In the center, engraved in script is, "Wm.S.Marye/Hillside/Page
Co/Va", clearly the owner for whom the compass was made. William Staige
Marye was 25 years old in 1860.
The compass was refinished to a bright brass finish by Gurley. The
4 knobs are replacements made by K.A. Hancox and the compass face was
silvered by Robert Keheler, of Gurley.
It was the gift of Cecil Hanson,
Pasadena, CA. |
