Can Measure Angles Independently of the Magnetic Needle

360 Degree Spinner View

This is a wonderful and rare Railroad Compass made by Benjamin Pike & Son Circa 1837. Railroad Compasses could measure angles independently of the needle, which was a very important development in the history of surveying in America. Please see my Railroad Compass Webpage which describes the development and importance of these neat compasses.

And please see my Benjamin Pike Maker Webpage to read more about Pike's instrument making business.

Pike used a very unique design when he made this compass. This is the only Railroad Compass I have seen with EXTERNAL gearing. Take a look at the pic immediately below. How cool is that large external gear!

This neat compass has a 5 inch needle and is 15 inches long. I don't have the box or staff adapter unfortunately. Just the Compass as shown in the pics.

According to the National Museum of American History:

Benjamin Pike & Son won this silver medal in 1837. The obverse has a goddess, the archangel Gabriel, several children, and "MECHANICS INSTITUTE NEW-YORK / FURST. F." The reverse has "KNOWLEDGE IS POWER" and "Awarded to / B. Pike & Son, / for a very Superior / Mountain Barometer & / Theodolyte Compasses / 1837."

I have no idea if this was the compass that Pike submitted for judging to the Mechanic Institute. But it is almost certainly the design of the compass that won the Silver Medal in 1837.

As explained on the Railroad Compass Webpage, Theodolite (or Theodolyte) Compass was an alternative name for Railroad Compasses - the name that the New York City makers like Pike and Richard Patten used.