Lawrence and Mayo, traces its roots to two London based Jewish families, who set up operations all over the world including London, Cairo, Spain, Portugal, Indian subcontinent, Colombo, Rangoon and Singapore. Not much information is available on the early history of the company, but its reputation as a chain of High grade Opticians and makers of best quality Survey, Scientific and Meteorological Instruments was well known. Records show that L&M opened its first Indian office and showroom in Calcutta in the year 1877. By 1955 Ross Ensign had moved production from Walthamstow to Ross's Clapham Common factory, where they continued to produce cameras along with lenses and binoculars.

This is a large prismatic surveying compass, made by Lawrence & Mayo, India, and dates to post WW2. Made from bronzed brass, measuring just over 5 inches (130mm) in diameter and weighing just under 900 grams, this is an impressive surveying compass. In 1833 he served as Master of the Spectacle Makers’ Guild and a s well as writing and publishing a number of instructional handbooks, he was also Optician in Ordinary to King George IV and Queen Victoria and operated out of 21 Poultry Lane until his death in 1847. He was also a personal friend and admirer of the final German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II, having become acquainted in the early 1900s after he wrote favourabley of Wilhelm in his memoirs. (A Collection of books inscribed to Brigadier Wallscourt Hely-Hutchinson Waters, by Kaiser Wilhelm II were sold at auction in 2018) see photo of one example.The leather case is embossed 'MARTINS-BIRMm LIMd 1916' with military arrow and has fully intact stitching and shoulder strap.

The double broad arrow also shows it was later officially decommissioned for sale into the civilian market. It comes with mother of pearl dial divided into degreees with an accuracy of +/- 1/2 degree, and is in exceptional cosmetic condition, even the luminous points are still active.Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1855, he was later appointed Optician to HRH the Prince of Wales. In very good condition including its leather case, this is a substantial instrument, which weighs 500 grams including the case, and measures 70mm in diameter across the main body. Price Made toward the latter part of the 19th century, this brass cased green card dial prismatic compass with folding sight vane is inscribed "Chas Owen Optician 46 & 48 City Rd EC" and "W. H. H. Waters" on the reverse.

In good condition, the body is engraved 'PATENT NO 1926. MADE BY F. BARKER & SON LONDON FOR CASTANON MONGEY. CIA MADRID. 4751'. Dating to the early 20th century, this non prismatic compass is very similar in dial design to the early Verners pattern examples and reads 'NIGHT MARCHING COMPASS H.W.W. 1907' and belonged to Australian Surveyor Herbert Wrake Walker.

EXECUTIVE AWARDS

A rare compass from the WW1 era dated 1917, it comes in it's original leather carrying case which is in very good condition with all its stitching intact. Although not dated, manufacture of the MK V compass design was discontinued in 1916, so we know that this compass predates 1917. Not much information is available on the early history of the company in London, but its reputation as makers of high quality scientific instruments was well known. Records show that L & M opened its first Indian office in Calcutta in the year 1877 and rapidly became India's leading opticians with a prestigious client list that included Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Neru. It comes with the original leather case also numbered 419, which carries the War Department arrow showing that it was military issue. Although there are no makers marks, the design is that of a MK VII which was the last of the hunter cased models first developed in WW1 for the Britiash Army and it dates from the period between the two world wars.

This mid 19th century brass prismatic sighting compass made by Elliott Brothers is signed 'ELLIOTT BROS, CHARING CROSS, LONDON' on the dial around the pivot. Wood cased compasses are for the most part unsigned, but this travellers compass in a mahogany case, has a makers name which although partially obscured, reads ‘Wm SIMMS’ at the very north point of the dial ( see photo).In 1826, Simms joined with Edward Troughton to form the famous partnership of Troughton & Simms, dating this compass to the early 19th century. Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Cinematograph Projectors, Arc Lamps, Epidiascopes, Photographic Lenses, Binoculars, Telescopes, Scientific and Optical Instruments including Autocollimating Goniometer and Optical Benches and Special Optical Systems. (Olympia, Ground Floor, Stand No. D.1692) [4] This is Aubrey Franks who belonged to the famous Franks family founded in the late 18th century by Isaac Franks. The firm operated in Manchester from 1798 and continued as a family business throughout the 19th & 20th centuries with Aubrey taking it over in 1878. The kit comprises of a 1/2 oz bottle of liquid (empty), disc spanner, sighting wire, chamois leather & instruction sheet, the spare interchangeable pivot being the only item missing. A British Army WW1 Verner's Pattern MKVII prismatic marching compass with leather case, all in very good condition.