Objects Database

Suunto compass

Accession Number

999.2012.1

Object Name

Suunto compass

Created

28/08/2012

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

28/08/2012

Brief Description

Celluloid baseplate compass with liquid damped capsule holding needle.Round magniyfying glass and protractor.

Materials

celluloid

Dimensions

12.5(l) x 6(w) x2(h) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"SUUNTO CODE RA-69" and mm and inch rulers

Colour

clear with yellow and black needle

Maker

Suunto

Provenance

A bit like we call any make of vacuum cleaner a 'hoover', the various types of baseplate compasses tend to be called 'silva' even if they are a Suunto which is what we have here in the collection.
Swedish orienteer and instrument maker, Gunnar Tillander, was the first person to amalgamate a protractor (see elsewhere in the collection) with a compass in 1928, creating the first 'baseplate' compass primarily for use outdoors. He went on to form the Silva company which in 1932 produced the first baseplate compass with a liquid dampened capsule to hold the compass needle.
Meanwhile, and hot on Tillander's heels, Finnish surveyor, Tuomas Vohlonen, applied for a patent for a unique method of filling and sealing a lightweight compass housing made entirely of celluloid with liquid to dampen the needle and protect it from shock and wear due to excessive motion. He was granted his patent in 1935 and around the same time the Suunto company came into being. Actually called Suunto Oy we are not sure where the name is derived from.
Though not as well known as Silva, Suunto is a worldwide organisation specialising in precision instruments for diving and the outdoors.
We suspect this Suunto compass dates from the 1970/80's and once belonged to Mick Tighe's Mountain Guiding Company, Nevis Guides.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

28/08/2012

Condition Check Date

28/08/2012

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/08/2012

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