Surveyor's Compass
name: label: maker
content: Dean, William
notes: label: Description
content: The form of this compass suggests that it was made in the late 18th century. The "DEAN PHILAD" inscription refers to William Dean who, in an advertisement of June 4, 1792, described himself as a "mathematical instrument maker" who had "commenced business" at No. 43, South Front Street, Philadelphia, "directly opposite the post-office." In another advertisement, this one dated January 31, 1794, Dean announced that he made and sold "Surveying instruments of every description, Theodolets, Circumferentors on an improved plan, with a noneus, &c., Leveling instruments with or without telescopes, Sextants, Quadrants, Mariner’s Compasses, &c. and every article requisite for navigation, surveying, levelling, &c."
label: Description
content: Ref: Charles Smart, <i>The Makers of Surveying Instruments in America Since 1700</i> (Troy, N.Y., 1962), pp. 36-37.
label: Description
content: Advertisements in <i>Dunlap’s American Daily Advertiser</i> for June 4, 1792, and January 31, 1794.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
label: See more items in
content: Surveying and Geodesy
label: See more items in
content: Measuring & Mapping
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Smart, Charles E.. Makers of Surveying Instruments in America Since 1700
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2003.0156.01
label: accession number
content: 2003.0156
label: catalog number
content: 2003.0156.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Surveyor's Compass
label: Object Name
content: surveyor's compass
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 21 cm x 17 cm x 34 cm; 8 1/4 in x 6 11/16 in x 13 3/8 in
label: Measurements
content: overall: 9 in x 12 3/4 in x 6 1/4 in; 22.86 cm x 32.385 cm x 15.875 cm