This Magnapole Series II marching Compass dates from World War I. The compass card is jewelled and upturned around the edge in order that readings can be taken at eye level via a notch in the bail and a sighting line in the covers’s lens. The bezel, which houses a bevelled glass crystal, may be rotated to mark a bearing. The patent number 22,598 was filed in 1914 by Francis Edward Collinson, Manufacturer and Short & Mason Ltd., both of Aneroid Works, McDonald Rd., Walthamstow, London, NE. The compass we have here in the collection was bought in a sale by Mick Tighe for around £60 in the late 1980’s.

The Verner’s compass takes its name from Colonel Verner who was born in 1852 and commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1874. The first prismatic compass had been patented back in 1812 (patent no. 3545) by someone called Schmalcalder and Verner’s was basically a much improved version which was popular during WW I – initially with the MK VII version and latterly with the MKIII which began production in 1917 – the main change being the simple, but very effective locking arm which stopped the compass dial moving around during transit. This lovely example of compass and case was bought by Mick Tighe at an auction in Perth, during the 1980’s, for around £60, and interestingly perhaps we see a similar one for sale in 2010 for £159. We don’t think Verner would actually have made the compass, and it seems that F-L or French Limited were the manufacturers. It would appear that Adez Cliff of Walsall made the case and the owner had the initials A.W. Presumably A.W. was a male, and may have been in the RSF – Royal Scottish Fusiliers(?)