This is just a sample of the many antiques we have sold. Click link to see other Sales Archive Pages on this Site.

We can help you sell quality Antiques  Contact Us.

For further info on consigning / selling your antiques with us please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages.

Our current offering of Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.

Roach & Warner Surveyors Compass    This surveyor's compass dates from the early to mid 1800's and is in very nice original condition.  Roach is a well known but relatively rare maker who started out his instrument making career on the East Coast in New York after he came here from Ireland.  He started out in the mid 1830's or so in a partnership with Warner, and that is how this instrument is marked.  By 1850 or so he was listed in the directories of San Francisco as a maker of scientific instruments and surveying equipment.  He was soon the best known and largest maker on the west coast. 

This compass is in very nice condition exhibiting large amounts of its original finish.  It appears that one vial has been refilled as the two have different color vials.   .  The labels inside the top indicate that this instrument was at one time in the Boston area being worked on or adjusted by the Leder and Probst  there.  Another tag says it was purchased from them in 1919, and then that fellow gave it to the next owner in 1959.  The original Roach & Warner label is still here as well giving the location of 292 Broadway New York.  The compass measures just under 16" overall, and the compass face is approx  6  3/4" with the needle being 6".  The compass face is very nicely engraved with a floral and vine motif.  The ball and socket mount for the Jacob staff is also present.  A rare and desirable instrument in condition not typically found.

Good . . . . .  $2000.00       SOLD

Frye & Shaw Surveyors Compass    This surveyor's compass dates from the mid 1800's and is in super original condition. The partnership of Frye & Shaw (1837-1845) was formed by Addington D. Frye and Robert Ludlow Shaw and was located in New York City. The dovetailed box is original and very nice. It will make a great display piece.  Very nice!

Good . . . . .  $1750.00       SOLD

There is a nice bio at the Smithsonian site  found Here:

 http://americanhistory2.si.edu/collections/surveying/object.cfm?recordnumber=745994





Gregg & Rupp Surveyors Compass    This surveyor's compass dates from the mid 1800's and is in super original condition.  This was a New York based outfit and it is done in that style.  The dovetailed box is original and very nice as well. It will make a great display piece.  Very nice!

Good + . . . . .  $1750.00       SOLD

Levi Colton Surveyors Compass   This surveyor's compass dates from the mid 1800's and is in super original condition.  Colton began his career in Washington, and then moved to New York and finally Connecticut.  This one is nicely engraved in the New York style of the period.  It is complete and in very nice original condition.  The dovetailed box is original and very nice as well. It is smaller than typically seen and will make a great display piece.  Very nice!

Good +. . . . .  $1995.00       SOLD

Below is biographical information from the Smithsonian site. 

Colton Levi Colton (1803-1885) was born in Massachusetts, and trained as a jeweler and silversmith. He may have learned the art of instrument making from Richard Patten, for whom he worked in Washington, D.C. in 1846, and who described him as “a quite steady and industrious man.” Around 1850 Colton was making compasses in New York City, and in the mid-1850s he was making compasses in Hartford, Connecticut.




William Young & Sons Compass w/ Auxiliary Scope Serial # 4798    This is a wonderfully graphic piece of Early Americana and American Technology which dates from approx 1876 and the era of the American Centennial.  William Young was the first American instrument maker to own a dividing engine which he designed and built himself.  He is also credited with designing the first American Transit.  By the time this instrument was made one of his sons, Alfred had taken over the company, and it was right around this time that they fist began marking their instruments Young and Sons.  This early and famous firm was located in Philadelphia, producing a quality line of instruments right up until they were acquired by Keuffel and Esser around  1918. Even then K & E continued to offer a separate line of instruments with the young name so as to maintain that customer base which had been built up over the years. This compass is approx 16" long, and the compass measures 6" with a 5 1/2 inch needle which operates just fine.  The level vials are all full and appear to be original.  The optics of the 7 1/2" rare auxiliary scope are clear and bright.  There is one decorative small brass cover missing over the vernier adjust on the right hand side up against the compass.  This can be seen in one of the pics.  It is minor and does not affect operation.  The sight vanes are both present and nice.  The box has classic dovetail joints from the period and in general is very nice.

Good . . . . .  $1750.00       SOLD

Randolph's 1879 Patent  Surveyors Telescopic Level  Theodore Randolph was a well known instrument maker in Ohio during his working period from roughly 1850 to near the turn of the century.  He won several awards at exhibitions and first drew a patent for this style of telescopic compass in 1879.  Randolph was born, raised, and operated his business in Cincinnati Ohio from the mid 1800's to just before the turn of the century.  This instrument has a detachable telescope that can be removed.  The optics are good / clear, and the compass is operational.  The level vials are full and appear to be original.  The silvered Vernier is nice, and the keeper works as well.  This piece was cleaned a long time ago and has a nice mellow look to it after years of aging.   A nice piece from a  hard to find maker that will make a very nice display.

Good . . . . .  $995.00       SOLD

Randolph's 1879 Patent  Surveyors Telescopic Level w/ Compass   This instrument has a detachable telescope that can be removed. The optics are good / clear. There are a couple of empty screw holes in the scope body that i do not know what went there. This can be seen in the pics. The compass is operational and the 2 level vials embedded in the compass face are full with green blue liquid and appear to be original. The outer silvered Vernier is nice. The compass face measures approx 5" and it has a 4" needle which is operational. The bronzed compass face is very nice, and the serial # is 4440. This piece has never been cleaned and has a nice patina. The bottom connector is present and is prepared to be fitted to a tripod or staff with the threaded adapter which has a spring loaded quick release feature.  

Good . . . . .  $695.00       SOLD

Patented T. F. Randolph Vernier Compass w/ 4' Needle  This surveying compass is marked with the maker name T. F. Randolph, and the location Cincinnati. Ohio as well as the patent date of June 12th 1871.  Theodore Randolph's working dates were from roughly 1850 to near the turn of the century. He was a well known and respected surveying instrument maker from Cincinnati Ohio. He won several awards at exhibitions and first drew a patent for this style of  compass in 1871.

This instrument has two thumbscrews on the bottom to attach an auxiliary telescope that can be removed and is missing. The compass is operational and the 2 level vials embedded in the compass face are full with green blue liquid and appear to be original. The outer silvered Vernier is nice. There is a keeper / numbered dial that is operational as well.  The compass face measures approx 5" and it has a 4" needle which is operational.  The locking feature for the needle works, but is close to being stripped and is fragile.   The bronzed compass face is very nice, and the serial # is 1121. This compass has never been cleaned and has a nice patina. The bottom knuckle joint connector has a spring loaded quick release feature and is prepared to be fitted to a staff .

A nice piece from a hard to find maker that will make a very nice display.

Good  . . . . . . $195.00     SOLD!

K & E Forrester Compass  These small compasses were made for work on the go out in the field.  Every major maker offered a version, and here is the Keuffel & Esser model in nice condition.   

Good . . . . .  $195.00       SOLD

Robert Shaw Surveyor's Compass  Robert Shaw was born in New York City in 1817 and worked there throughout his career.  He died in 1876.  From what I have read he learned his trade and worked with from John H. Wheeler another early New York instrument maker prior to opening his own shop.  In Smarts' bio on him he says that Shaw was listed individually in 1836 as a instrument maker at the 222 Water St. location.  After that and until 1845 he was listed as having Addington Frye as a partner.    I suppose this surveyors compass with the location given could date from just after he first opened shop in 1836-1837, and before 1838 when he was in partnership with Addington Frye, or after 1845 when the partnership dissolved.  Later Directories indicate that Shaw was in business by himself at several other locations in the city after 1845 and in his later working years

Several years ago I had and sold a compasses marked with both names that was very similar in design and decoration to this compass.    There is a picture of that compass in the archives if you care to look. 

The overall condition of this surveying compass is superb.   The vanes fit nicely, and the knuckle joint is present.  It is all original and its patina has developed to a warm glow only possible after 150 years of careful storage.  The compass face has very detailed and nicely done  engraving around the ring and at the points.   Early New York instrument makers were proud of their work, and it shows in the level of quality and detail that was put into this piece. The box is proper and a very nicely figured burled / flamed Walnut.  It has a iridescence or shimmering quality even today nearly 150 years after it was made from the wood.  Several years ago I had a Shaw & Frye Compass, but otherwise they are very hard to find today, and are considered rare in most instances.  A very nice piece that is highly recommended!

JG-SHAW-C

Fine . . . . . . . $1495.00        SOLD!

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This is just a sample of the many antiques we have sold. Click link to see other Sales Archive Pages on this Site.

We can help you sell quality Antiques  Contact Us.

For further info on consigning / selling your antiques with us please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages.

Our current offering of Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.

This website is Copyrighted
(1998 - 2009)
Larry & Carole Meeker