A very good scarce pair of late Victorian refracting binoculars with integral Singer’s pattern compass by Lawrence & Mayo, London c1900

Refracting binoculars or field glasses constructed in japanned brass, ¾” eyepiece lenses, 1¼” objectives, central wheel focus, pull out lens hoods. The integral Singer’s pattern compass with mother of pearl dry card on jewelled suspension, displaying cardinals and intercardinals, highlighted triangle for north, circle for south, and “Rd. 300906.” Hinged protective cover activating transit lock when closed, the outside marked “The Lynx” and “Lawrence & Mayo,” the inside with paper insert marked “For Night Marching: To render the points of the Compass more luminous at night, it should be exposed as much as possible to the daylight.”

Condition: The subject of a complete overhaul, the mechanism working smoothly, the compass swinging freely, finding north easily. Externally with some wear to black finish to main body and eye pieces, the pull out lens hoods and eyepiece tubes retaining much original finish. The optics have been professionally cleaned, the resultant picture though typical of refracting optics, is bright and sharp.

Comments: Relatively scarce, most examples are either optically poor or have been stripped and polished. Some have lost the compass and very few have the paper insert. The Singer pattern compass is by Francis Barker, the leading manufacturer of compasses at that time who generally produced white label instruments for the trade. The Registered Design Number 300906 was issued between 26 June-8 July 1897, enabling these binoculars to be accurately dated.

A very good collectable example of these desirable antique Lawrence & Mayo field glasses.

Originally based in London in Chancery Lane, optical and scientific instrument makers Lawrence & Mayo opened offices in Egypt, Spain, Portugal, India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Singapore during the 19th century. The company still exists in India to this day.