Surveyors' compass

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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.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-823-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1985.17
• Date: Around 1760
  c. 1760
  
• Material: Theodolite
  
• 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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