A very rare Hill & Son pocket compass, dating from c.1880. The compass features a brass hunter case and hand-painted paper compass card. Although the compass card is signed by Hill & Son, this compass was almost certainly made by Francis Barker & Son, and retailed by Hill & Son from their shop at 4, Haymarket, London. It can be dated quite accurately as the company only traded as Hill & Son from c.1870 to 1890. This particular compass card design is almost identical to the Francis Barker 'Mica Dial' design, a transparent compass card made from very thin mica, with a hand-painted compass rose, red triangular North marker and circular red South marker. This distinctive design was only made by Barker, and first appeared around 1865. The only difference is that the Hill & Son compass has a paper card, rather than the transparent version used in the 'Mica Dial'.
Hill & Son: was originally established in London c.1855 by Thomas R. Hill (1824-1898). Thomas Hill's son, Edwin (1850-1931), joined the business, and around 1870 they became known as Hill & Son, with the name changing again around 1890 to Edwin Hill & Son. They traded from premises at 4, Haymarket, London and were 'Cutlers, Skate and Alpine Axe Manufacturers', best known as makers of ice axes and suppliers of 'sundry goods used in connection with mountain ascents'. One of their adverts from 1902 listed 'Alpine Axes, Alpenstocks, Lanterns and Rope' as some of the many products they stocked. It went on to state that 'H. & S.'s axes are well-known both in England and abroad, and are largely used by members of Alpine Clubs and others. Every axe of their make bears their name and address'. It seems that by 1906 they had ceased to produce ice axes.
Francis Barker & Son: were established in London in 1848, as a maker of compasses and scientific instruments. Francis Barker produced a very wide range of compass designs over the years, supplying major retailers such as Negretti & Zambra, J. Lizars, C. W. Dixey, Dollond, and many others. The company prospered until 1932, when it was taken over and became F. Barker & Son (1932). After WW2 the company changed hands several times and the name is now owned by Pyser Optics of Edenbridge in Kent. They continue to produce the renowned Francis Barker M-73, widely acknowledged to be the world's finest prismatic compass.
Condition:
In very good condition, good working order, and finds North well. There is some minor wear to the brass case. The lid opens and closes well. The compass card is in very good condition.
Dimensions : 45mm (65mm including loop)
