Just thought I'd share. I picked up a Cruchon & Emons compass dated 1916. What makes this somewhat scarcer is the fact that it's complete with its 1916 dated case, all complete. The leather needed some immediate TLC in that it was very dry and starting to crack. I gave it a treatment with mink oil and it'll need some more to really stabilize it from any further deterioration but it's really nice that there are no cracks or breaks in leather that's over 100 yrs. old. Even the felt inside is in very good condition. The compass itself is marked "Verners Pattern" and the Roman numerals "VII", and is in excellent shape. The only flaw is the fact that the threaded shaft that holds the knurled knob on the side is bent. I assume that at some point it was dropped but it doesn't affect function. You'll note the date and the "crowsfoot" WD acceptance stamp. I haven't seen a lot of these but never one that's all complete. Given the condition, I speculate that it may have been issued to a rear echelon unit or person, artillery maybe? I find it hard to believe that given the losses in men and material that it would have sat in QM stores for 2 yrs., but who knows? I had hoped it would be Canadian marked, but as it's British, I'll probably put it on the table when the shows start up again. So to my other lovers of militaria and military history, enjoy.
