Surveyors' compass

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This surveyors' compass was made around 1800, probably by Samuel Thaxter (1769-1842) of Boston in America. He was in business from around 1792 and was joined by his son Joseph H. Thaxter (1801-35) in 1822.

The compass is made of wood because of the comparative expense of imported brass to the American colonies from Europe. The compass rose is printed 'THAXTER/ MAKER/ head of the Long Wharf/ State Street/ BOSTON', and the protective wooden cover is scratched with an owner's name: 'W. IRVING HALL' and 'MAY 29 1817'.

In the American colonies, surveyors found their work difficult as there were no ready landmarks through the dense forests. Prominent compasses are therefore a feature of American surveying instruments.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-291-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1985.29
• Date: 1800
  c. 1800
  
• Material: Compass, surveyor's
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Compass, surveyor's
  
• Subject:
• Who: S. Thaxter, Boston (Maker)
  
• Where: U.S.A., Massachusetts, Boston
  
• Event:
• Description: Surveyor's compass by S. Thaxter of Boston, c. 1800
  
• References:
  • For surveying in America, see Bennett, J.A., The Divided Circle: A history of instruments for astronomy, navigation and surveying. Oxford: 1987, p 149 and Bedini, Silvio, Thinkers and Tinkers: Early American Men of Science. New York: 1975, pp 184-204 
  • For Thaxter, see Smart, Charles E., The makers of surveying instruments in America since 1700. Troy, N.Y.: Regal Art Press, 1962, pp 160, 253 
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