HENRY BROWNE & SONS Ltd London SESTREL Hand Bearing Compass
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:654962 | Country/Region of Origin: United Kingdom |
| Object Type: Compass | Primary Material: Brass |
| Original/Reproduction: Vintage Original |
For offer is an exceptionally high quality original Sestrel hand bearing compass that was designed and made by Henry Browne & Son, Barking, London, England, over may years. These compasses were considered the finest hand bearing compass in the world, and were often copied inexpensively by pretenders, but were never duplicated in quality.This compass is arguably the finest of its type ever designed as a ha...nd bearing device. The bowl is made from cast bronze, and can be polished to a high luster. The optical glass prism magnifies the image, and allows the user to see both the object being sighted and the compass card bearing at the same time. An iridium chip beneath the card was used to light it for night use and needs replacement. A penlight flashlight is a good substitute. The compass is mounted on a solid teak handle with attached card to make notations. At two pounds, it has the heft and feel of strength and durability.The compass comes in an expensive teak wood case with clear panel so the ship's heading can be seen at a glance when mounted in a fore and aft direction. It is good looking enough to appeal to a collector or in a room decorated in a nautical decor. Both case and compass show very little evidence of use considering their age and service at sea.
Henry Brown designed this compass in 1937 when it was first offered for sale for swinging aircraft compasses. Their factory was located at Wakering Road, Barking, Essex, and they had an office at 71 Leadenhall Street, London, which opened in 1947. By that time, their product line included Nautical Instruments, Compasses, Clocks, Binoculars, Telescopes, Thermometers, Sounding Apparatus, Aircraft Instruments, Signaling Equipment, Meteorological Instruments, Barographs, Thermographs, Aneroid Barometers, Sextants, and Yacht Equipment. During WW II, their "Dead Beat" compass was fitted to most Royal Navy ships through the the 1970's.Around 1975, as part of the industry wide consolidation taking place in the marine instrument and equipment business, the assets of Henry Browne were purchased by Lilley & Gilley who continued this compass under the Sestrel brand for a number of years. The Sestrel operations were sold more than once. Today, there are reproductions on the market and out right fakes. But even the best of the reproductions, like those made by SIRS Navigation Company in the UK, do not have the fine quality of those made by Henry Browne & Son and later by Lilley & Gilley. The SIRS compass sells their version under the Radiant brand in the United States for over $1333.00 with an inexpensive plastic box case.
REVERSED CARD: The compass card is seen in reverse above because it is intended to be viewed through the prism which reflects the image properly. The reddish compound around the inner bezel is the sealing putty.Measurement in size
COMPASS: 4" bowl, 4" x 2" handle, 10" length overall
CONDITION:: IN VERY GOOD CONDITION FOR IS AGEPLEASE SEE PICTURES AS IS PART OF DESCRIPTION AND SEE OTHER LISTING BY ME THANK YOU.
POSTAGE TO EUROPE £18.00AUSTRALIA £19.00RESR OF THE WORLD £20.00
Henry Brown designed this compass in 1937 when it was first offered for sale for swinging aircraft compasses. Their factory was located at Wakering Road, Barking, Essex, and they had an office at 71 Leadenhall Street, London, which opened in 1947. By that time, their product line included Nautical Instruments, Compasses, Clocks, Binoculars, Telescopes, Thermometers, Sounding Apparatus, Aircraft Instruments, Signaling Equipment, Meteorological Instruments, Barographs, Thermographs, Aneroid Barometers, Sextants, and Yacht Equipment. During WW II, their "Dead Beat" compass was fitted to most Royal Navy ships through the the 1970's.Around 1975, as part of the industry wide consolidation taking place in the marine instrument and equipment business, the assets of Henry Browne were purchased by Lilley & Gilley who continued this compass under the Sestrel brand for a number of years. The Sestrel operations were sold more than once. Today, there are reproductions on the market and out right fakes. But even the best of the reproductions, like those made by SIRS Navigation Company in the UK, do not have the fine quality of those made by Henry Browne & Son and later by Lilley & Gilley. The SIRS compass sells their version under the Radiant brand in the United States for over $1333.00 with an inexpensive plastic box case.
REVERSED CARD: The compass card is seen in reverse above because it is intended to be viewed through the prism which reflects the image properly. The reddish compound around the inner bezel is the sealing putty.Measurement in size
COMPASS: 4" bowl, 4" x 2" handle, 10" length overall
CONDITION:: IN VERY GOOD CONDITION FOR IS AGEPLEASE SEE PICTURES AS IS PART OF DESCRIPTION AND SEE OTHER LISTING BY ME THANK YOU.
POSTAGE TO EUROPE £18.00AUSTRALIA £19.00RESR OF THE WORLD £20.00
