Beautiful Compass Made by Goldsmith Chandlee for Andrew McKay

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This is a very nice Goldsmith Chandlee Compass with three key features - the original owner's name and Goldsmith's famous Poles Counter and L-T Table. This is a can't miss compass.

Goldsmith made this compass for "A: M'Kay" There is a large McKay clan website that claims this instrument was made for Andrew McKay (who passed away in 1804). That claim seems very accurate to me. Goldsmith was very close friends with Andrew McKay, and McKay even named Goldsmith numerous times in his will. I'll let the next owner figure out the trail this compass likely followed from an ownership and surveying perspective.

I view this compass as important from the perspective of figuring out the dating of Goldsmith Chandlee compasses. The McKay compass is significant because it proves that Goldsmith added his L-T Tables by 1804 (when Andrew McKay died). Knowing that Goldsmith was adding L-T tables by 1804 (and likely a few years earlier) made it possible for me to come up with the 5 distinct periods for dating Goldsmith Chandlee compasses.

Note - One sight vane, one thumbscrew and the adapter are modern re-creations by Jeff Lock, who was extremely skilled at reproducing and then placing patina on replacement parts. This is the first time I have had a chance to put my hands on Jeff's work, and I'm amazed by the quality of the work. It's is VERY hard to tell the difference between the replacement and original sight vanes. I understand that Lock initialed each of his replacement parts largely to prevent future buyers from thinking that the parts were original. After seeing his work I now understand the need for his initials.

Please see my Goldsmith Chandlee Makers Webpage (especially the Goldsmith webpages discussing the Pole Counters and L-T Tables) for more info. You should also take a look at my Chandlee Family Collector's Guide .