Original Henry Browne Hand Bearing Compass Ca 1960 Mint

This Fine Compass Has Been Sold. Thank you! ORIGINAL HENRY BROWNE & SON, LONDON - VINTAGE SESTREL HAND BEARING COMPASS CA 1960

HENRY BROWNE, "SESTREL" HAND BEARING COMPASS - Original

Presented is a Henry Browne & Co., Barking, London English Sestrel hand bearing compass. This compass is the finest of its type ever designed. It's bowl is cast bronze, and if desired can be polished to a high luster. The optical glass prism allows the user to sight at the object and at the same time see the compass bearing in his field of view, and magnifies the card for easy use. An iridium chip beneath the card lights it for night time use. This may need to be replaced. The compass is mounted on a solid teak handle with attached card to make notations, and at two pounds, has the heft and feel of real seagoing gear.
The unit is housed in a beautiful teak case with Plexiglas panel. It is good looking enough to appeal to a collector or as a focal point in a room decorated in a nautical fashion. Both case and compass are in extra fine condition considering their age and service at sea.

Henry Browne & Son made only the highest quality marine navigation gear under the "Sestrel" trade mark and were purchased by Lilley & Gillie around 1975 when the marine industry was being consolidated. The Sestrel operations were sold more than once. Today, there are many reproductions on the market and out right fakes. We were lucky enough to find an original SESTREL "Lady's Waist" ship's binnacles four years ago, and sold it immediately. Here's the listing, http://landandseacollection.com/id83.html

SIRS Co., in the UK is manufacturing this compass under the "Radiant" name. It comes with a leather carrying case not Teak wood. Its price is £755 plus £90 for shipping to the U.S. That's the equivalent of $1411.00 as of August 8th's, 2009 rate of exchange.

DIMENSIONS:

COMPASS: 4" bowl, 4" x 2" handle, 10" length overall
TEAK CASE: 9 1/4"H x 5 1/4" W x 5 1/4" D
WEIGHT: Compass 2 lbs, In case 3 1/2 lbs

CONDITION: The two inch compass card is clear and sharp, works like it should, and everything is in extra fine condition considering its age and service at sea. All the brass work has been polished for a dramatic affect. There is one small dent on the front of the bowl and some stains beneath. The Teak wood case is in excellent condition. The brass plate on the handle replaces a white plastic one.

This is a great item for those who have an interest in navigation, or want to have a hand compass of unusual design.

Optical quality prism for line of sight viewing

Back of bowl has fill plug

USING A HAND BEARING COMPASS: I used a similar Sestrel while at sea for the following purposes which are as valid today as they were thirty years ago. For you young people who grew up with GPS, that system can not provide the information a hand bearing compass can unless coupled to a Radar. And then you need to know Radar plotting to solve CPA problems. Here's how to use it:

WHILE UNDERWAY:

Take bearings of vessels in crossing situations to determine risk of collision.
Take bearings of sea buoys, land marks or other objects to determine distance off at time of passing
In congested waters, take bearings of a number of different vessels to determine if their relative position is constant or changing.
Sailors learn to take back bearings to determine your leeway
AT ANCHOR: 
                                    
Always take anchor bearings of own vessel to make sure you are not dragging.

Take bearings of other vessels to make sure they are not a danger to you.

Rarely do you find a piece of old gear in such great condition. A superior addition to any collection or use it at sea.

STANDARD FLAT RATE SHIPPING to the 48 contiguous States $25.00

OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned within five days of receipt in its original packaging if without damage. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization from us for the return is required. Shipping charges are included in this offer if an error is due to our fault.

International buyers welcome, but should know their counties' must 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, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.

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