Isaac Chandlee Vernier Compass - Dated 1801

Isaac Chandlee was born in Nottingham on September 12, 1760, the son of Benjamin Chandlee, Junior. He died, unmarried, in Nottingham on December 10, 1813.

Isaac was a talented artisan - he made clocks and instruments of high quality. While Isaac's compasses compare very favorably with compasses made by others circa 1800, Isaac was destined to be overshadowed by his brother, Goldsmith.

I have a Vernier Compass dated 1801 made by Isaac (IC1 below) - it's a beautiful instrument.

Ellis Chandlee (1755-1816) also was apprenticed to his father, and he worked with his brothers in the shop. He established the firm of Ellis Chandlee & Brothers, in 1790, shortly before his father's death. The firm was dissolved in 1797 when the youngest brother, John Chandlee, left the firm. Ellis continued in partnership with his other brother, Isaac Chandlee (1760-1813), until about 1804, producing clocks, surveying instruments, and other metal articles. Their products were signed "Ellis and Isaac Chandlee, Nottingham," or, in the case of a surveying compass in the collection of the Chester County Historical Society, "E. & I. Chandlee, Nottingham." Isaac Chandlee also produced clocks and instruments under his own name only, for there are a number of surviving clocks and surveying compasses
signed in such manner.

For more on Isaac, read the short chapter on him in the Six Quaker Clockmakers Book - The Isaac Chapter is Here.