Nautical Compass C. Plath, 1930's

This striking marine compass is a highly decorative item that provides a great working order. The article was manufactured in Germany in the 1930s. The compass bears the name of C. Plath, a prestigious German manufacturer of surveying instruments. It is in excellent condition and works perfectly, keeping all its original component parts. The device is made of polished brass and glass, and comes into a fine square box made of solid tropical wood and reinforced with brass attachments.The compasss face, with white background and black symbols and numbers, bears the printed name and logo of the manufacturer: C. PLATH HAMBURG GERMANY. The origin of the brand took place in 1837, when David Filby founded a shop where he traded in nautical literature, charts and sextants that he imported from England. On the other hand, in 1857 Carl Christian Plath set up a workshop for the production of surveying instruments. In 1863 he bought Filbys highly reputable business and started producing marine instruments: sextants, barometers, magnetic compasses and so on. During the 20th century the company underwent many vicissitudes but kept on with its production. Nowadays C. Plath is part of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.This particular instrument is a good example of C. Plath products quality and nice design. The box where the compass is kept is quite remarkable because of the solid woods fine veneer: it boasts a great reddish brown color with darker strokes. The lid has a beveled frame and a central plate, both made of polished brass. The plate is engraved with the manufacturers name. The boxs corners are also reinforced with screwed brass attachments.Measurements: Width: 5.9 in/15 cm. Height: 5.9 in/15 cm.