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Surveyor's Compass

Object Details

Description
The narrow bar, dovetails holding the vertical sights in place, and face that reads clockwise, suggest that this compass dates from the middle years of the 18th century, when its owner, a Quaker preacher named Benjamin Ferris, settled at Quaker Hill in Dutchess County, N. Y.
Ref: Conrad S. Ham, "A Family History of a Group of Surveying Instruments 1750 to the Present Year 1954," Annual Report of Proceedings of the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers 70 (1954): 134-138.
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Credit Line
Conrad S. Ham
Measurements
overall length: 13 5/8 in; 34.6075 cm
overall in case: 2 1/2 in x 13 1/2 in x 5 3/4 in; 6.35 cm x 34.29 cm x 14.605 cm
overall base: 3 3/4 in x 5 7/16 in; 9.525 cm x 13.81125 cm
Object Name
Surveyor's Compass
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