VINTAGE 19th CENTURY B. KRATZENSTEIN SURVEYOR’S VERNIER COMPASS, AS IS

Description

ITEM(S) FOR AUCTION
I have done a bit of research on this historical piece and found a bit on information online about it; enough to get me interested in it anyway. JUST A NOTE..... I HAVE NOTIFIED THE MUSEM MENTIONED IN THE FOLLOWING AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PIECE.
IF THERE ARE NO BIDS
AND
IF BY CHANCE THEY DO NOTIFY ME AND WISH TO HAVE THE PIECE, I WILL DONATE IT TO THEM.
Along with other information,
I have underlined an
d highlighted in red, some pertinent information about B. Kratzenstein further down.
With that, I’ll list what I have found so far. The following concerns the Arnold compass: On the title page listing of National Museum of American History: describing an
F. Arnold vernier compass
: This is an incomplete example (describing a sample by F. Arnold), not my listing, (the arms are missing) of an unusual 4-armed instrument. The needle rim is graduated to 30 minutes.The variation scale, at south, extends +- 20 degrees, and is read by vernier to single minutes. The “F. Arnold & Co.” inscription refers to Francis Arnold, an immigrant from Frankfurt, Germany, who signed naturalization paper in Philadelphia in 1854. After working briefly for William J. Young, Arnold went into business on his own, advertising as a manufacturer of surveying and engineering instruments. He settle in Chicago around 1860.
By 1875, B. Kratzenstein was advertising as Successor to F. Arnold & Co..With that information, we are offering a fine example of B. Kratzenstein’s “Surveyor’s Vernier Compass, dating to approx. 1875.
The instrument is made entirely of brass, weighing approx 4 lbs. This has not been cleaned or polished in the least.....just the way I found it. There are lots and lots of patina which I have left as I found it. There is still liquid in the round glass (level is approx. half for bubble), on the left side in the 5th photo, though it’s hard to see(level is difference between dark and light). The small knob screw is to hold the needle in place. Note the vertical gratuated indication lines in the closeup in the 4th photo.
A very precise instrument is represented here. The mounting stem (set screw missing) is still in place on the back side (last photo). There is very,very little wear to the brass, just lots of petina. I don’t know if it’s significant or not, but the 2 bolts (photos 10 and 11) holding the arms in place, have letters on them; LE on one and RBW on the other….no particular order.
To simplify the shipping, I will unloose the 2 vertical arms for easier packaging (these are easily attached). This will be packaged using styrofoam, bubble wrap, and cotton padding for a safe arrival.
As always if there is any accidental overcharge on shipping, it will be cheerfully refunded through your Paypal account at time of shipping.
BIDDING –
At least a Positive 3 Feedback Rating required.
I only accept Paypal
as a form of payment.
SHIPPING
– USPS Priority Mail will be .99 This includes your tracking number. This shipping cost is for the lower 48 states.