Sutton and Layman compass boxes, 19th century.

Set of two R.A. SUTTON and LAYMAN COMPASS BOX 19th century.
Steel, brass and bakelite.
Complete.
One lined wooden box and one bakelite box.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use, and a metallic patina consistent with age and professional use.
Measurements: 2,5 x 19 x 9,5 cm.

Two boxes of technical drawing instruments in their original cases. Among the preserved steel and brass instruments are identified various types of compasses and rod compasses (consisting of a long horizontal bar on which two movable heads, one of which carries a pencil, and the other a pin or tracer, which is used to draw large circles or arcs of circles as for large-scale work plans). Including a line drawing pencil

This set represents a piece of technical heritage, not only for its quality of manufacture and completeness, but also as a material testimony to the rise of technical drawing as a fundamental discipline in engineering, architecture and technical education of the time.

The extensive history of the compass begins in Ancient Greece, when this utensil was used as a key element in geometric and mathematical demonstrations. Until that time, earlier cultures such as the Egyptians had relied on taut strings to draw circles. Subsequently, other cultures used this valuable instrument as a source of creation, from the Romans to the Renaissance era. However, the real heyday of the compass came in the 17th century, when the first workshops dedicated to the manufacture of scientific and precision instruments appeared, producing compasses that were even artistically decorated. The development of navigation and the introduction of technical drawing in many academic training courses led to the increasing importance of this instrument, which became an indispensable element in the daily life of these professionals. At the same time, advances in precision mechanics in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the emergence of companies specializing in the manufacture of compasses, which became increasingly industrialized.