Dating Goldsmith Chandlee Compasses

Dating Goldsmith Chandlee Instruments

Goldsmith Chandlee First Design Compass - With Outkeeper But No Dial

Goldsmith's First Design - Approximately 1780s

First Design - No Pole Counters & No GC Flourishes
Probably 1780s

Goldsmith's style evolved as he grew more experienced. There are a few known GC compasses without Pole and Mileage counters, and Goldsmith most likely very early in his career. Take a look at the two examples below - they don't show the very sophisticated engraving that made Goldsmith famous. I believe that these are reflective of Goldsmith's early years of compass making.

Chandlee Articles

Here are some helpful reference materials related to the Chandlee Family of Instrument Makers:

1. Chandlee - Six Quaker Clockmakers (1943).

2. American Backcountry Tall Clock - Goldsmith Chandlee - His Genius His Customers (2016) A must see article that focuses on clocks and compasses.

3. The American Surveyor (Dale Beeks) - George Washington's Gift (Oct 2005) (Story about the compass Goldsmith made for GW - The Lane Compass).

4. The Professional Surveyor (Dick Elgin) - On Goldsmith Chandlee (2001) A really good article on GC.

5. Smart - His notes on Goldsmith for his book.

6. Gaynor & McKnight - Goldsmith Chandlee's "American Manufacture" Compass - The Rittenhouse Journal Vol 2 #3 (1988)

7. Beeks - A Surveyor's Compass Made By Goldsmith Chandlee - The Rittenhouse Journal Vol 2 #3 (1988)

8. Bedini - Goldsmith Chandlee & George Graves Compasses - The Professional Surveyor (Nov 1984) - Relying on Smart, Bedini inaccurately describe the functions of GC's L - T Table.

9. Bedini - Goldsmith Chandlee's L - T Table - The Professional Surveyor (May 1985) Bedini discussed a different possible explanation of GC's L - T table. I believe that Dick Elgin came up with the right explanation in his article, #4 above.