Magnetic Compass with Gimbal Mounting and Scales by Thomas Heath
date: label: date made
content: 1720-1750
label: date made
content: 1720=1750
notes: label: Description
content: This unusual brass instrument has a magnetic compass with gimbal mounting at one end, and a chart of numbers pertaining to “Proof” and “Service” of brass and iron guns at the other. The latter suggests a connection with field tests of artillery and small arms with various amounts of gunpowder. The “Tho. Heath fecit.” inscription refers to the London instrument maker Thomas Heath who was in business by 1720, and trading as Heath & Wing by 1751.
label: Description
content: For a somewhat similar instrument, see number 570 in the Whipple Museum of the History of Science at Cambridge University.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United Kingdom: England
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.327562
label: catalog number
content: 327562
label: accession number
content: 267874
objectType: label: Object Name
content: compass
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 3.2 cm x 10.2 cm x 22.2 cm; 1 1/4 in x 4 1/32 in x 8 3/4 in