An early vintage hand held compass with backlight for night vision. Number 2846.

Faded marking on side of compass bowl with partial instruction to fill only with water and alcohol to damp down movement and prevent freezing. Should read 'Fill Only with water alcohol mixture.930 SP.GR.'. Liquid has been replaced as per instructions with distilled water and alcohol. Currently no air bubbles in top. The prism, in good condition, on top can be tilted down to read compass bearing

A small brass button in the side of the teak wood handle can be pressed to provide a backlight into the compass bowl at night. The brass switch can be moved upwards to keep the button pressed and the light kept on.

Most Henry Browne Sestrel hand held compasses do not have the backlight facility. The teak wood handle is 13cm long and longer than the standard compass

Corroded batteries have been removed from the battery compartment. The battery compartment has been cleaned and the batteries replaced. There is a celluloid white slide in panel on the side of the handle for notes etc..

The handle grip is made from wood, probably teak, and slides on the metal battery compartment. 

Some loss of paint and marking to the casework. The grey is probably admiralty grey. The compass is heavy. The compass backlight is good for night vision but looks brighter in the photos.

The compass, which has been manufactured for many years up to and including the second World War is still currently made and supplied by SIRS in Kent at a cost of over £800 with NATO calibration but without the backlight. The compass is very useable 

Dimensions:

Height with prism: 10" (25cm) Diam of dial" 4" (10cm)

Weight: 1.4kg

Vintage mid-Century, space age, modernist, retro, bakelite, celluloid, catalin, bandalasta, jaz, bayard, blangy, junghans, ATO, Hato, D&H, Reform, Ferranti, Schild, Raak, Yamagiwa, Galecki, Seiko, Smiths

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