A Francis Barker hunter cased 'RGS' pocket compass, dating from c.1900. Although there are no maker's marks, this is a well-known Barker design - the paper card design is the distinctive Barker 'R.G.S.' pattern, which first appeared in production around 1875. The compass card was made with a version of Balmain's luminous paper, which utilized the luminous paint developed and patented by William Balmain in the 1870's and was widely used in compasses of the late 19th century. It was rendered luminous by exposure to bright light - often by burning magnesium ribbon close to the compass card. This particular compass design appeared in many Barker catalogues, from the late 19th century until the 1920s. The later versions, produced after about 1906, often had luminous radium markers, but these are not present in this earlier version, which was made before radium was available.
This compass has a brass case, paper and aluminium compass card, transit lock, and a jewelled pivot. The lid design is quite unusual - a viewing window with a brass protection bar instead of glass. Most of Barker's RGS compasses did not have a window in the lid. The case would originally have had a bronzed or 'Oxydised' finish - most of this has worn away over time, but it can still be seen inside the lid. The compass is in full working order and finds north very well.
Further details of this type of compass can be found in Paul Crespel's book Trade mark London which is available to view as a PDF at the trademarklondon.com website.
Condition:
In very good condition, full working order, and finds North very well. With some minor marks to the case.
Dimensions: 45mm diameter
