Julius Hanks was part of a family famous for making Bells and surveying instruments. Julius' was born in New York 1784, and his father was Benjamin Hanks.

Julius Hanks was a VERY creative fellow. He invented the bow compass, which is one of the most distinctive and collectible surveying instruments ever made. He also made a very distinct form of a Minute Compass - based on as shifting south sight vane. Hanks invented a sliding weight that fit on the south end of the magnetic needle - making it easier to keep the needle in perfect balance. Finally, he added a vernier, or nonius, to the tip of the magnetic needle in either silver or ivory, which allowed the compass to function as a Minute Compass as well - without any touching/upsetting of the compass.

Julius' father, Benjamin Hanks (1755-1824) apprenticed with Thomas Harland, an English clock maker who had recently migrated to Norwich, Connecticut. During his apprenticeship, in 1775, Benjamin married Alice Hovey (1754 - 1825) and they had ten children, including Julius (1784-1846). By 1777 Hanks was in business on his own in Windham, Connecticut. Like many American mechanics of that time, Hanks applied his skills in several directions. While specializing in clocks and watches, for instance, he asked the General Assembly to supply funds so that he could construct looms for weaving stockings.

Hanks moved to Litchfield in 1780, and advertised surveyor's compasses in 1785. In 1786 he began casting bells. In 1808, now living in Mansfield and working in partnership with his son Julius, Hanks was making vernier compasses or, as he advertised, "surveyor's compasses upon the Rittenhouse improved plan."

While in Connecticut, Benjamin expanded his business from clock and watch making to making surveyors' compasses, church bells and cannons. It appears that his brother Alpheus (1777-1831) and sons Truman (1782-1846), Julius (1784-1846) and Horatio (1790-1838) also became involved in Benjamin's business during his time in Connecticut. They also worked with him when he moved to the Troy, NY area in 1808; his brother Alpheus was 31 years old, his son Truman 26 years old, his son Julius, 24 and his son Horatio, 18. Julius had married Olive McCall that same year (1808). Benjamin left his Connecticut business to be managed by Truman while he and Julius began a bell and brass founding business in Gibbonsville (West Troy), NY, advertising as "Benjamin Hanks & Son." It appears that he immediately turned the business over to Julius; the August 30, 1808 issue of the "Troy Gazette" had Julius's advertisement which lists his business as a "Bell Foundery" where he made Church Bells and also manufactured "Surveyors' Compasses."

In the May 21, 1830 issue of the Troy Sentinel (New York), there is an advertisement to the effect that A. (Alpheus) & T. (Truman) Hanks have purchased the establishment of Julius Hanks in Troy and that Julius Hanks will be their agent. Alpheus was the brother and Truman was the son of Benjamin Hanks. Then, in the July 1, 1834 issue of the Troy Daily Whig, Oscar Hanks, son of Julius Hanks, advertises that he is the successor to A. & T. Hanks and that he will continue in the same line at the same address."

I picked up some Ohio Museum files recently related to surveying. In the files I found a small pic and letter from the Summit County Historical Society - the pic clearly shows a Hanks Compass featuring Hank's unique moveable South Sight Vane - a Hank's Minute Compass. The letter says that the compass was used to lay out the village of Akron, and was said to have been used to survey parts of the Ohio Canal. A Hanks Minute Compass in Action!!!!

Julius Hanks received a patent for an improved needle and bow compass sight on July 22, 1833. The patent is not available on the U.S. Patent Office database due to the Patent Office fire of July 4, 1836. The patent number would seem to fall between X7668 and X7677.

I found a write-up of the patent in an 1834 Franklin Institute Journal.