Possibly Made By Hanks according to Bedini's Files

360 Degree Spinner View - with Zoom Option
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This is a fascinating compass. It's large at 16 inches long with a 6 inch needle, and it has a very distinctive shape. The shape reminds me of the old bottle bats baseball players used more than a century ago. The compass is also well made and nicely engraved. So this is a high quality compass made by somebody who knew how to make a high-end compass.

So who made it?

Before the pandemic hit I visited Washington DC and ended up going thru many of Silvio Bedini's files at the Smithsonian, which was a blast. In his files he had pics of a compass that is VERY similar to the compass offered here - especially the unique bottle bat design. I believe the two compasses were made by the same Maker. On the back of the photo, Bedini attributes the compass to Julius Hanks. Hmmm. I can't find anything else on the internet supporting that attribution. I also don't know where the other bottle bat compass is. Somehow, however, Bedini believed that Julius Hanks made the compass in the pic. See Bedini pics below.

The compass offered here has two level vials. I suspect the compass started its life with only one level vial (like the Bedini compass), and the second one level vial was added sometime (likely shortly) thereafter. I note that One level vile has liquid, the other does not. No obvious cracks though.

The compass come with its cover. The compass also comes with reproduction sight vanes made by Jeff Lock - they are wonderful reproductions that blend into the compass very nicely.