Improvements in Magnetic Compasses for Night Marching and Course Indicating.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 11th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
Improvements in Magnetic Compasses for Night Marching and
Course Indicating.
JAMES HENRY STEWARD 406 Strand London Optician do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The application to the base of magnetic compasses for military or travellers use
of a moveable indicator capable of being set to any meridian or direction and
clamped in position by an improved method. This indicator can be used in con-
junction with a luminous line in the lid of the compass case or box or may form
its own indicator for direction purposes by being made luminous, or it may be used
in connection with an indicator on top of the compass, by means of which an
alteration of the course can be made at a definite time or spot during the march on
the darkest night, without revealing a light, providing as in this instance the dial
or card of the magnetic compass is luminous so that distinctive N. & S. points are
shown. The compass if desired can be of the needle form. The moveable
indicator can be finished with a turned up point or sharp edge that can be felt and
the position accurately determined in the dark by feeling ouly or it can be broad
enough to be rendered luminous by painting with luminous paint and cau be
extended if so desired by lengthening pieces pivotted to it or screwed together.
Dated this 11th day of March 1896.
J. H. STEWARD.
Improvements in Magnetic Compasses for Night Marching and
Course Indicating.
JAMES HENRY STEWARD 406 Strand London Optician 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 the base of magnetic compasses for military or travellers use
of a moveable indicator capable of being set to any meridian or direction and
clamped in position by an improved method. This indicator can be used in con-
junction with a luminous line in the lid of the compass case or box, or may form
its own indicator for direction purposes by being made luminous, or it may be used
in connection with an indicator on top of the compass, and known as a direction
bar, by means of which an alteration of the course can be made at a definite time
or spot during the march on the darkest night without revealing a light providing
as in this instance, the card or dial of the magnetic compass is luminous so that
distinctive N. & S. points are shown. The moveable indicator can be finished
with turned up edge or sharp point so that by feeling, the position can be accurately
determined in the dark, but preferably it is made broad enough to be rendered
luminous, by painting it with luminous paint. The compass with which it is used
may be either the form known as the floating card, or the simple needle. If desired
the indicator can be extended by lengthening pieces, in one or more lengths screwed
together or fitted together like a fishing rod.

page_text: In order that the moveable indicator may be more clearly understood I append
drawings as follows:-
Fig. 1. shows the compass open as in use with the luminous line in lid of case
at A, also the direction bar B as ordinarily used in compasses of this kind, C being
the improved indicator for use in night marching. I is the compass card.
Fig. 2. shows the exterior of the base of compass, C. being the improved
indicator which can be rotated to any position and D the partially revolving disc
with raised piece for finger and thumb (D'). This disc on rotation acts on the
clamp G (Fig. 3) to fix C at any required position. E is the base of compass.
Fig. 3 shows the clamp as it would appear with the covering part removed,
D being the disc to act on the clamping piece G. E is the base, F the moveable
ring with serrated edge, G the clamping piece with serrated edge, H the cam
shaped piece on the underside of D releasing or fixing G when partially revolvel
to the right or left.
Fig. 4 shows a section of the compass with the various parts described above in
their places, I being the compass card or dial, B the direction bar, C the improved
indicator attached to the ring F, G. is the clamp. D the partially revolving disc,
D¹ the fingerpiece. E the base.
In practice the improved indicator is used as follows:-A night march is ordered
for a certain distance or time on one bearing and after that on another bearing when
no light must be used & it is therefore impossible to see the exact bearing, so before
starting, the direction bar B is placed in such a position that it is over the N. & S.
of the compass card when the required bearing is at the lubbers line or central
with the luminous line A in lid of case. This will be the first bearing, and it is
only necessary to hold the compass in front with the luminous line pointing
outwards, and turn oneself until the N. & S. points, distinctly marked on the
luminous magnetic card I, are straight under the direction bar B, to march in the
required direction; for the luminous line in lid, the direction bar, and the N. & S.
points can all be seen on the darkest night.
Now for the second direction or bearing all that has to be donc is to set the
direction bar B round to the indicator C and when the N. & S. of compass card
are in a line with it & the N. end under the direction bar, the second bearing is
shown in the same way as the first one was. Or the second bearing can be seen
by the N. end of the compass card being allowed to settle opposite the improved
indicator C. without the intervention of the direction bar B. The indicator C can
be also made to answer for shewing any required direction independently of the
ordinary direction bar B, for it is painted with luminous paint and therefore c:n
be used in the dark as well as by daylight. It can also be used in connection with
a line (luminous) in the lid, to show the bearing by that line when the N. end of
compass card is opposite the indicator as shown in Fig. 1 (the bearing there being
290 degrees).
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. The application to the base of magnetic compasses for military or travellers
use of a moveable indicator capable of being set to any meridian or direction for
course indicating and clamped in position, substantially for the purpose as set forth
and as figured and described.
2. The improved method of fixing an indicator for directions or bearings to
magnetic compasses, especially applicable for night marches, as described and
figured.
3. A magnetic compass with the improved indicator and clamp substantially as
set forth and figured and described.