Bushwalk Australia

Found in my father's vast assortment of "stuff" last year.
No markings at all aside from a flower motif stamped into the leather case.
There are two small sight-glass type things which fold out, one with green glass and the other appears to be black and completely opaque.
On the opposite side there is a small button but pressing it doesn't appear to have any effect. I haven't even figured out how to open the thing.
It appears to be good quality, like all things manufactured in ye olden days, but not top quality.
I have no idea what to do with it.

Some type of vintage lensatic compass maybe?

Possibly a collapsible theodolite ?
You will know a lot more once it is opened but take it to the Melbourne Museum for a definite answer.

Looks like an old compas: https://www.wheelerantiques.co.uk/coppe ... ss-in-case

Tyreless wrote:Looks like an old compas: https://www.wheelerantiques.co.uk/coppe ... ss-in-case

OK Problem semi-solved, now to figure out how to get it open.

Tyreless wrote:Looks like an old compas: https://www.wheelerantiques.co.uk/coppe ... ss-in-case

Oh wow! Thank you. That might give me some clues to get it open. And now I'm humming "Brass in Pocket".

There's something loose inside but it doesn't sound too bad.

Watch this space.

Wow... nice find. My wife gave me an 1843 compass for Christmas last year. She paid $2 at an op-shop, not sure if it was even authentic. I looked it up and it's genuine and worth hundreds as an antique. (I don't plan to sell it though - I love it.)

It still works well, although the needle drags a bit. Have to angle the compass off-horizontal a little to get the needle to float freely. I guess it was made for the gravity/magnetic mix in UK, not Tasmania.

I was also wondering if there would be someone local, perhaps associated with the local Flagstaff Hill museum, who may know something about these. I’m a bit tied up for the next few weekends (not walking unfortunately) but it may be worth investigating.

Interesting that it has what look like tinted glass lenses. Does it have some sun-sighting use as well?