This is a very nice Gurley Plain Compass with a really cool shortened old tripod. My records reflect that the Plain Compass offered here for sale was acquired by its prior owner for $2350 at an eBay auction in 2003. With its short tripod, this compass looks fantastic on display. I suspect that's why the compass generated such enthusiastic bidding back in 2003.

The Gurley Plain Compass offered here was likely made in 1907 or so. The 1907 date is based on a label on the box lid (see pics below). The label reflects a Seattle Branch office for Gurley - which Gurley opened up around 1907 or 1908. Gurley also started putting serial numbers of instruments in 1908. This compass does not have a serial number. Thus, it's seems pretty straightforward to date this instrument in the 1907 time frame — after Gurley opened the Seattle Branch office and before Gurley started putting serial numbers on instruments.

The Gurley Label has the name "H. A. Marshall" written on it in pencil. I assume that's the original owner of this compass. I ran a google search for that name and 1908 and pulled up some hits, including a reference to a North Carolina surveyor with than name in 1905. I will leave it to the next owner to dig deeper in the history of this really cool compass.

The tripod makes this instrument special. I understand that Gurley would custom make tripods - including shortened tripods. I understand that some mining surveyors preferred shortened tripods. I believe this tripod was a standard Gurley compass tripod that was shortened by the compass owner, however. The very bottom the the legs are not uniform in roundness like a factory tripod should be. Nevertheless, a lot of work went into shortening the legs, and the compass & tripod setup make for a Killer Display.