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This boxed dry compass was made by Alexander Oliphant in 1804. It was a very important piece of equipment for navigation on the open sea. The compass consists of a magnetised iron needle mounted on a pivot above a copper disc. The disc has been etched with the name of the maker, the compass points and a 360 degree scale. It is set in a brass ring in a wooden box and has two removable brass sights. The lid of the box is missing.

The compass works because the needle will always point North. The needle swings over the disc and by lining up the direction of travel using the sights, the bearing could be read from the scale around the edge.

©SCRAN/Scottish Fisheries Museum
19th century brass azimuth compass