Goldsmith Chandlee

Known Goldsmith Chandlee - Without Engraved Names

Goldsmith Chandlee - Original Owner Not Named

Goldsmith Chandlee Compasses - Without Owner Names Engraved

GC101 - This compass was sold on ebay in 2013 for $7100.

GC102 - This compass is owned by the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, although I can no longer find the compass on the MSV website.

GC103 - This compass sold auction for $22k in 2007. The compass was resold on eBay in 2010 for $11k.

GC104 - This is a very unusual GC compass - maybe one of GC's first compasses. Lacks many of the design characteristics that made GC famous. Sold at auction in 2012 for $2185 (in rougher shape than the nice-looking compass pictured above).

GC105 -Looks like a very early GC compass, as it lacks most of the design features that made GC famous. Sold at a Brunk Auction for $8400 in 2021.

GC106 - Nice early GC compass lacking sight vanes. Sold at auction for $6k in 2019.

GC107 - Early GC Compass. Sold for $6k in 2010. And then resold for $4k in 2013.

GC107 - Nice later GC Compass. I don't have anything on this compass.

GC108 - This GC compass sold for $9k on eBay in 2003. I download the listing back then. I don't have anything else on it.

GC110 - I have nothing else on this compass - just this small pic.

GC111 - This GC compass sold for $9750 on eBay in 2003. I download the listing back then. I don't have anything else on it.

GC112 - I have nothing else on this compass.

GC113 - This compass was featured on an Antiques Roadshow Segment (worth watching). The name Smith is not engraved on the instrument, but a handwritten note indicates that Smith was the original owner circa 1795.

GC114 - Interesting. Looks like a GC compass ring mounted on a different mainplate. Fetched $4560 at an auction in 2019.

GC115 (AmericaMade) - Another incredibly beautiful engraving performance by GC. Currently owned by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (more pics). See Article #6 below.

GC116 (AmericaMade) - VERY beautiful engraving. I don't know who owns this compass. Skinner Sale in 2017 for $17,220 (more pics). See Article #6 below.

GC117 (Hillsborough) - Not much to go on for this one. Here is what I know about it.

GC118 - I found this pic of a Fourth Design GC compass in a collection of instruments I acquired. Click on the above pic for a better view.

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.