Object Details
- Balch, Thomas H.
- Short, George
- Description
- The "THOS H. BALCH Maker State Street NEWBURYPORT" inscription on the paper card on this wooden compass refers to Thomas H. Balch (1771-1817). According to an advertisement in the Newburyport [Massachusetts] Herald for August 8, 1806, Balch's shop could be found under the Sign of the Mariner's Compass. Like many artisans, Balch did not make every part of every instrument that carried his name. From research in local records, Martha Fales found that a local cabinet maker named George Short made the boxes for Balch's nautical compasses.
- Ref: Martha G. Fales, "Makers of Mariners' Compasses in Newburyport," American Neptune 28 (1968): 144-145.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- PH.337209
- catalog number
- 337209
- accession number
- 1979.0260
- Object Name
- compass (surveyor's plain)
- Surveyor's Compass
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall length: 16 1/16 in; 40.79875 cm
- overall: 8 1/8 in x 16 1/8 in x 8 in; 20.6375 cm x 40.9575 cm x 20.32 cm
- place made
- United States: Massachusetts, Newburyport
- Related Publication
- American Neptune
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
- Surveying and Geodesy
- Measuring & Mapping
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_745819
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-7fa1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
