The dark water of a storm can easily confuse and confound a boat sailing on the ocean. This certain hitch in voyages was often detrimental and sometimes fatal to seamen of old, but today GPS addresses these problems easily. Dire situations such as these were often addressed by the navigator’s expertise. Determining a safe path the ship can take to evade the worst of the storm was normally determined by a navigator with maps and some quick mathematical thinking. Many tools were used in this process, but the compass was the most important of them. Magnetic north is the absolute direction a compass’ steady hand points to. This absolute direction has aided many people in both times long since passed and the modern age with finding their way. The compass is one of few essentials even the most seasoned travelers consider mandatory.
Antique compasses serve both a decorative function and a useful function. In terms of decoration items of age and vintage, antique compasses are among the items that age the best. Both the metal’s integrity and the quality of construction help the antique compass to age gracefully. Durability was one of the most important aspects of these antique compasses, and the maker would often focus solely on this attribute when crafting his pieces. Double plated metal helped antique compasses to last as long as they have today. Crafting antique compasses from silver or brass was very much favored in craftsmen circles.
Antique compasses that were to be used on land were quite different compared to the others crafted specially for the sea. Ocean antique compasses were treated with special routines of heat in order to seal in the metal to resist the rust buildup from extended use on the water. Antique compasses of the sea were almost always made from a derivative of brass metal, as the brass inherently resisted all forms of sea water rust. Since these compasses focused on the ocean, many crafters made their accents out of wood to compliment the theme of ‘sea’. In order to prevent sea compasses from slipping out of pockets, chains were attached to their bodies.
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Dents and nicks from dropping were a major concern for the mountain compass, as was iron ore disruption. Because certain types of ores in the rocks could cause a compass to go haywire, many makers insulated the tool with rubber. For many, these items led them to safety in times of danger in the mountains. In very bright light, these items could also be used to send signals to others watching as the metal was used to catch sunlight. Stories from the times of settlers and the old west speak of this exact method being employed by train robbers during their heists.
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Being embossed or carved with letters is almost a given for these antique compasses. Names, dates, and sayings were all carved onto these items. Pictures were sometimes implanted in the top portion of the compass so that they could be seen when the item was opened. The subjects in these photos were almost always people.
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