NavList:

   

Reply

I'd appreciate your information regarding the proper mixture for a
compass fluid.

Thank you,

Courtney Thomas

Henry C. Halboth wrote:

> It was my understanding that, starting from scratch, compass fluid was a
> proper mixture of glycerin and distilled water (my notes give the correct
> proportions if anyone is interested) - lacking that a good grade of Vodka
> was always recommended as the fluid to get rid of a bubble. Many years
> ago there was always a problem with sailors tapping the compass for a
> surreptitious drink.
>
> On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 22:06:18 -0400 Jared Sherman
>  writes:
>
>>Ritchie are in Pembroke, MA now at www.ritchienavigation.com/ and you
>>could
>>give them a call to enquire.If you can send them a digital photo
>>they may be
>>able to identify the compass.
>>
>>The two issues are that the fluid be the right viscosity, and that
>>it not
>>dissolve anything. My impression is that the mysterious "compass
>>fluid" sold
>>at genuine marine prices is what we call kerosene in the States, aka
>>"paraffin oil" in the UK. Much thinner than mineral oil. Of course
>>kerosene
>>comes in many grades, so the "compass fluid" probably is somewhat
>>more
>>refined than what you'd buy at a fuel station.
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Trevor J. Kenchington" 
>>To: 
>>Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 5:25 PM
>>Subject: Refilling a compass, was: Compass tilt
>>
>>
>>Jared wrote, in response to George:
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Johnson's confirm this to be simple mineral oil, with fragrence
>>>
>>added.
>>
>>>Generic mineral oil from the pharmacy is sold unscented, typically
>>>
>>at less
>>
>>>than half the cost. Of course, then the compass might not smell as
>>>
>>sweet.
>>
>>
>>I have a rather nice older, brass box-compass, less its box, picked
>>up
>>for next to nothing at a flea market years ago. However, its fluid
>>had
>>been drained off, making its card very unstable and the compass
>>quite
>>useless as anything but decoration. Can anyone suggest how I should
>>determine whether it should be refilled with oil (Johnson's or
>>otherwise) or spirit?
>>
>>I figure that getting a new box made would easy enough if I could
>>refill
>>the compass itself. Maybe I would also need to restore the seals to
>>keep
>>the fluid in. Still, the result should be prettier, better quality
>>and
>>likely cheaper than buying a new compass of the same type.
>>
>>
>>This compass is identified as "Ritchie, Boston". It is marked in
>>quarter
>>points but also in degrees, from 0 to 360. I assume that the latter
>>(rather than markings of 0 to 90 in each of four quadrants) dates
>>the
>>instrument to post-1920 but perhaps American practice turned to the
>>360-degree notation before the British did (and/or perhaps my memory
>>of
>>when the Royal Navy abandoned quadrantal notation is wrong).
>>
>>
>>Trevor Kenchington
>>
>>
>>--
>>Trevor J. Kenchington PhD                         Gadus@iStar.ca
>>Gadus Associates,                                 Office(902)
>>889-9250
>>R.R.#1, Musquodoboit Harbour,                     Fax   (902)
>>889-9251
>>Nova Scotia  B0J 2L0, CANADA                      Home  (902)
>>889-3555
>>
>>                     Science Serving the Fisheries
>>                      http://home.istar.ca/~gadus
>>
>>
>


--
s/v Mutiny
Rhodes Bounty II
lying Oriental, NC
WDB5619

   

Reply