Surveyors' compass

This surveyors' compass was made around 1760, by John Morgan, a scientific instrument maker based in London. It is made of brass.

This compass would have had sights (now missing) fitted outside at the North and South axis, which rotates to enable readings to be taken from the needle. This always points North-South.

The young James Watt trained as a scientific instrument maker under John Morgan before returning to Glasgow in 1757 and setting up in business as an instrument maker himself, operating from the precincts of Glasgow University.

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Online ID:	000-100-102-823-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland T.1985.17
Date:	Around 1760 c. 1760
Material:
Dimensions:
What:	Theodolite
Subject:
Who:	J. Morgan (Possibly the maker) John Morgan, Birchin Lane, London (Maker)
Where:	England, London England, London
Event:
Description:	Plain theodolite of brass, by John Morgan of London, c. 1760
References:	Clarke, T.N., Morrison-Low, A.D. & Simpson, A.D.C. Brass & glass scientific instrument making workshops in Scotland as illustrated by instruments from the Arthur Frank Collection at the Royal Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh: NMS, 1989. pp 164
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