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Sestrel s signature aviation compass H B S London made in England 1930s

$1,921.44
£1,423.11
€1,600
CA$2,628.43
A$2,860.54
CHF 1,516.37
MX$34,414.45
NOK 19,232.42
SEK 17,596.31
DKK 12,192.28

About the Item

Sestrel's signature aviation compass H B S London made in England from the 1930s, brass and glass, mounted on oak board tailor-made. The compass consists of a cylindrical-shaped brass vessel, called a mortar, on which bottom is attached a hard metal rod, on which the appropriately constrained eight-twenty rose rests, so that the zero coincides with the magnetic polarity. To minimize friction, the mortar is filled with low-freezing point liquid, also having the purpose of rapidly dampening any wind rose oscillations and enclosed by a strong protective glass. The compass has a graduated movable disk inserted above the compass to set the direction to follow and which can be rotated on itself. Buono stato perfettamente funzionante. Measures 19x16x17.5 cm - inches 7.5x6.3x6.9. The last photo is the gift box. Sestrel is a registered trademark of Henry Browne Son, which was an important English firm producing high quality compasses, inclinometers, sextants, etc. founded in the second half of the 19th century. The brand name 'Sestrel' results from the initials of the qualities that the brand embodies: SEnsitive -STeady - RELiable. Indeed, Sestrel is a name synonymous with quality and precision, as evidenced by the number of instruments with that mark, vintage and ancient, still in use today. The first historical records of the use of magnetic directive force in Europe date back to the late sec. XII or early XIII and attribute the exploitation of the properties of the magnet to the Amalfitans. The gimbal made its first appearance around the middle of the sec. XVI. An exact description is given in the short compendium "De la esfera y de la arte de navegar," by Martin Cortés (1551), which gives precise guidelines for the construction of the compass. To the refinements of the instrument can largely be attributed the great discoveries of new lands, from the middle of the sec. XV onwards.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 6.9 in (17.53 cm)Width: 6.3 in (16.01 cm)Depth: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1930
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Milan, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1020247145782

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