The earliest known compass dates back to Han dynasty (2 B.C to 2 A.D) in China. These compasses were made of ‘spoon shaped’ lodestone( magnetized ore), when placed on a bronze disk always pointed north.
A mariner’s compass is basically a navigational instrument that is used for finding directions. It consists of a magnetized pointer that freely aligns itself to the earth’s magnetic field, pointing north and helps in navigation.
However, the mariner’s compass or a dry compass that is still used today, was invented in Europe in the early14th century. The prominent instrument makers were Merrill, David Rittenhouse, Groves & Barker and various others who handcrafted each instrument.
Generally, the compass were used on sailing vessels or a whaleboat and even on a fishermen’s dory. As time passed, compass became an integral part of navigation instruments along with sextants and octants.
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The compasses were made of silver, bronze and brass with stout gimbals, while the cases were crafted of ebony, mahogany and teak wood. Some were designed to be mounted inside a binnacle, in the ship’s pilot house. There were provisions for fitting a lamp in the compass’s case for the seamen to navigate at night.
Few high quality English compasses were manufactured in Hull, England, which is a port that is known for fishing and whaling fleets since the 13th century and the Trinity Navigational School was established in 1369.
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