Museum catalogue: Antarctic Collection
Compass
Details
Accession no.: | Y: 52/55/1-2 | ||||||||||
Object name: | Compass | ||||||||||
Title: | Compass | ||||||||||
Description: | A P11 type aircraft compass (Y:52/55/1), number 32736HC, manufactured by Kelvin & Hughes (Aviation) Ltd. with a grey wooden box (Y: 52/55/2) This type of compass was used while sledging during the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) from 1945-50, and perhaps later. | ||||||||||
Classified name: |
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Number of items: | 2 | ||||||||||
Full description: |
Y: 52/55/1: A P11 aircraft compass, circular in shape, with a black painted metal casing and glass face. The compass sits on springs in a circular metal support, painted green-grey. The support has three brackets/feet, each with a slot in them and one of which is marked in with ten degrees. There is a brass plaque on the side of the support engraved '[crown] // A.M. // REF. No. 6A/726', and the top edge is painted 'AFT'. There is an arm with a pointer protruding from the stand which clips in place over the edge of the compass. The compass itself is marked 'TYPE P11 No. 32736H.C.'. There is a metal grid ring, marked with eight points of the compass and in degrees, which can be rotated and locked in any position. The compass has a magnetic system with eight evenly spaced damping filaments, arranged with luminous (radioactive) wires forming a T, the base of which points North. To set and steer a compass course the grid ring is rotated until the required course is seen against the pointer and then clamped. The sledge is then turned until the T of the filaments lies in and parallel with the open T of the grid wires and with the cross mark of the North-seeking filament pointing to the North mark of the grid ring. The P11 weighs 3 lbs. 3 1/4 oz. Y: 52/55/2: A square wooden box, painted grey on the outside, with a hinged lid (two metal hinges). There are two metal catches on the front. The front and back are painted in red with 'DELICATE INSTRUMENT // HANDLE WITH GREAT CARE', the front is painted 'TYPE P.11' in white, the lid is painted 'GLASS // WITH CARE' in red and the number '634' has been written in chalk. There are wooden blocks covered with baize fitted to the inside of the lid, and several examination stamps. There is a textile carrying handle screwed to the sides of the box. |
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