A Magnetic and Sight Compass.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1389-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Magnetic and Sight Compass.
WILLOUGHBY VERNER Junior United Service Club Charles Street, London, S. W.,
Captain, Rifle Brigade do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The application to a Magnetic Compass of-
1st. A frictional ring, so that when sketching on a board, book, pad &c. the
Compass may be placed in the most suitable position for taking bearings & yet not
slide when ordinarily tilted or the board &c. moved or shaken by the wind.
2. An external graduated are divided on or attached to case of Compass.
3. The combination of a slit in the cover with a luminous line used in taking
bearings.
4. The reversing direction point and its zeros and attachment.
5. The simple method of converting the handle of Compass in conjunction with
slit in cover into Sights for observation.
Dated this Sixteenth day of To
1080
WILLOUGHBY VERNER,
Captain, Rifle Brigrade.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Magnetic and Sight Compass.
WILLOUGHBY VERNER Junior United Service Club Charles Street, London S.W.
Caprain, Rifle Brigade, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The application to a Magnetic Compass of,
1st. A frictional ring, so that when sketching on a board, book, pad &c. the compass
may be placed in the most suitable position for taking bearings and yet not slide when
ordinarily tilted, or the board &c. is moved or shaken by the wind.
2. An external graduated are or ring divided on or attached to the case of Compass
and graduated to degrees or points or both.
3. The combination of a slit in the cover with a luminous line painted inside cover
used in taking bearings or as a finger to shew true course in night marching or true
north in surveying or working by and with a map.
4. A direction bar rotating inside the Compass box with its zero or mark at the ends
to show by outside graduations the place to set it in order that the slit & luminous
line in cover may point to the required bearing. This direction bar is so made that it
moves sufficiently stiffly to remain where set, or a clamp can be and is in some of the
Compasses fitted to the outside of case to fix the ring when set & to prevent its
moving by jolting, or accidentally.
5. The simple method of converting the handle of compass in conjunction with the
slit in cover into Sights for observation by making a V cut in that part of the ring or
bow that when turned up is in true line with the centre of line & slit in lid.
6. The turning up of the edge of Compass dial or card on the plan of a saucer, or
at a definite or convenient angle from the plane of the dial or card so that the eye
may more readily distinguish and read the figures and divisions marked on the said
edge & which enable the degrees and letters for bearings to be noted, when the eye is
looking over the notch in the how or handle on to the card.
The Compass embodying the above improvements has been designed & made to
supply an instrument which, while fulfilling the duties of an ordinary Magnetic

page_text: Compass for military and other purposes can be used in various ways for rapid
sketching in the field.
The Compass is constructed in the same manner as an ordinary Magnetic Compass
but with the additions claimed in this specification as novelties.
The frictional ring consists of a ring of indian rubber, guita percha, leather or other
similar substance which is attached to the bottom of the Compass to enable it to be
used in the manner described.
The luminous line consists of a line one eighth to one quarter of an inch in width
or thereabouts which is painted across the inside of the lid of the compass with the
substance commonly known as luminous paint and has a slit cut longitudinally through
the centre of it & consequently through the metal lid so as to admit the light through
it and also to enable the exact position of an alignment to be observed.
The Compass can be used in various ways, as follows:
1. As a luminous compass, for night marching or other operations by night.
2. As a plane table compass, for rapid field sketching, more especially when using
a rough extemporized board carried in the hand.
3. As a Sight Compass for observing the bearing of any object after the manner of
a prismatic compass.
This can be done with sufficient accuracy for military
purposes.
4. As a true north Compass-for shewing true instead of magnetic north by setting
the direction bar to outside graduations to counteract the error due to Magnetic
Variation.
The various functions are performed as follows.
1. For night operations. To set the Compass to any required point for a march by
night. First open it and lay back the lid as far as it will go; then release clamp
screw (A) fig. 2)-and turn round the milled ring C and with it the index bar B. C-
until the point B. called its zero or mark, is exactly above the bearing shown on the
external graduated ring round the Compass box, in this instance W.S.W. Clamp the
milled ring by a turn of the screw A. Then, if the lock stop shown at right hand of
bow in fig. 1. is released & the Compass Card allowed to revolve so that the north
point is brought under the cross end of bar B. C. by gently turning the Compass in
the hand, the required direction will be indicated by the white (luminous) line D. F.
inside the cover (see fig. 2).
2. For sketching-Open the Compass and lay the lid back & place it on the paper
with the notch E on the handle and the slit D. F. on the cover coinciding with the line
drawn on the paper to indicate the direction of Magnetic north. Turn the board
until the north point of Compass corresponds with the line & proceed with the sketch
in the ordinary manner. The frictional ring prevents it shifting from desired position
on board. If true north is required it is only necessary to set the bar to the variation
& when the Compass dial is at rest with its N. point under the N. end of bar the
luminous line & slit D. F. will shew true north.
3. To take the "Magnetic Bearing" of an object. Raise the lid and the ring in the
handle at right angles to the Compass box and looking over the notch in the ring and
through the slit in the lid, observe the direction of the object and read off the bearing
from the edge of Compass Card opposite side to the bow, a fine line or lubber's point
inside the case immediately below the slit will assist in this operation as will also the
reflected light through the slit in the lid, which throws a line across the covering glass
of Compass (see fig. 1). The Compass Card is graduated 1 to 36 representing
10 to 360 degrees, the final 0 being omitted so that the figures may be clearer & more
readily seen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A frictional ring attached to case of Compass box.

page_text: 3. The combination of a slit in the cover with a luminous line painted inside the
cover.
4. A direction bar with a zero at each end or a mark at one end for setting it to the
required graduation on the outside of box.
5. The converting of the handle or ring into a V sight.
6. The turning up of edge of card or din! so that divisions & figures around the
circumference can be more readily seen when looking from or over the bow or ring of
Compass.
7. A Magnetic Compass substantially as described.
Dated this Fifteenth day of October 1880.
WILLOUGHBY VERNER,
Captain, Rifle Brigade.