Objects Database

Silva Pathfinder compass

Accession Number

1013.2012.1

Object Name

Silva Pathfinder compass

Created

26/09/2012

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

26/09/2012

Brief Description

Silva baseplate compass in box

Materials

metal, perspex

Dimensions

8(l) x 5(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

On box "OFFICIAL BOY SCOUT PATHFINDER COMPASS DURABLE ACCCURATE EASY TO USE NO 151 SILVA SYSTEM COMPASS HIKING MAPPIN ORIENTEERING"
On compass "BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA SILVA SYSTEM" and Boy Scouts logo

Colour

silver

Maker

Silva

Object Production Place

Sweden

Provenance

Silva or Sylva is latin for a wood or trees and when Swedish instrument maker, Gunnar Tillander, combined an ordinary compass with a protractor to make a single or base plate compass in 1928, he chose Silva as the name for his new creation as he spent a lot of time orienteering in his native forests.
So popular was Tillander's invention that it went global and the Silva pathfinder compass that we have here in the collection is an American Boy Scout version from the late, late 1940's - made in Sweden, but assembled in the US. Pretty much in mint condition Mick Tighe bought this one on e-Bay for £16.60 in 2012
We've added in a wee practice compass and extra instructions to this item as they were a bit lonely on their own!

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

26/09/2012

Condition Check Date

26/09/2012

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

26/09/2012

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