Dating Goldsmith Chandlee Compasses

Dating Goldsmith Chandlee Instruments

This is the Only Known GC Compass with an Engraved Date

Dating Goldsmith Chandlee Compasses - Five Distinct Design Periods

Goldsmith Chandlee was born in Nottingham Maryland in 1751. Goldsmith apprenticed with his father, Benjamin, until he was about 24 years old. Goldsmith then moved to Stephensburg VA 1775. There is a clocked signed GC Stephensburg but no compasses are known with a Stephensburg listing.

Goldsmith moved to Winchester circa 1776 to 1780. Every known GC made compass has "Winchester" or "W" (for Winchester) engraved on it, so the dating analysis starts in 1780 or so.

The American Backcountry Tall Clock - Goldsmith Chandlee - His Genius His Customers (2016) magazine claims that Goldsmith changed how he engraved "W" on his clocks and compasses, which helps date both clocks and compasses. After tracking down more than 40 GC compasses and the owner history for a number of them, I believe it is possible to date GC's compasses more accurately than suggested by the Magazine Article.

I see 5 district time periods relating to Goldsmith Chandlee compasses:

First Design
Probably 1780s

Second Design
Probably 1790s thru late 1790s

Third Design - Transitional
Approximately Late 1790s to 1803

Fourth Design
Early 1800s to 1821

Fifth Design
Likely 1807 to About 1810

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.