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This beautiful brass reproduction sundial compass is a striking and unique instrument, from the folding "style" to the handlettered paper with eight points of the compass coloured in the original hues of red and blue. Actual size is 1 3/4" in diameter.

This type of instrument was made in England and Germany in the middle 1700´s and, quite naturally, proved a useful item in early America, as a timepiece and functional compass. A pocket watch of that time was too expensive and fraigle for the frontier.

Now and then parts of an old compass will turn up --sometimes in agarden when struck by a plow, or on an archaeological dig. Such a find was made in 1965 on Rogers´Island, near Fort Edward, New York.

Rogers´Island was the main base for Rogers´ Rangers, the famous forerunners of the modern Green Berets. Roberts Rogers and his men fought countless wilderness battles against the Indians led by the French down from Canada --in what became known as the French and Indian Wars --1755 to 1763.

A sundial compass of this type was found in the remains of an officer´s hut, hidden in what was once the fireplace. It had no doubt led the way to many adventures.

This reproduction is used just as the original was by raising the "style" or vane, keep the compass level; then with the north end of the pointer, which is marked, lined up with 12 o´clock. The shadow cast across the dial will give the approximate time. Each compass comes with a small instruction sheet inside the removeable top.

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Stand: 27. Mai 2004