Though often considered as German in origin this compass was actually invented by Johan Ritter von Bezard, who was of Polish origin, although serving in the Austrian army when the compass was invented. Patented in 1902, the German barometer manufacturer LUFFT was one of the first to make Bezard’s compass, until the original patent ran out in 1917, patents in several other countries followed with different manufacturers alongside, though LUFFT seem to have carried on with their versions until 1996. A mind boggling variety of Bezards appeared following its invention in 1902, all of which appear in a fascinating history related in the on-line compass museum COMPASSIPEDIA – an excellent resource.

Bezards were not the first sighting compasses to be invented, though the method of looking through two slits on the right and reading the bearing in the mirror on the left was unique, there was also a clamp which could be used for attaching the compass to a tree or artillery piece for better accuracy.

We’re not sure when the first fluid versions of the Bezard appeared, so hard to date the one we have here in the collection, it seems to be a UK version with DIRECTION indicator in English. What is unique is that there is no bubble in the liquid, unlike the ‘modern’ Silva compasses which seem to arrive bubble included!

Apparently very common (understandably) in Germany and central Europe, not many ‘Bezards’ seem to have made their way across the channel. The one we have here in the collection was kindly donated by Hans-Dieter Schwartz.