L1A1 Prismatic Compass by W.F Stanley & co Ltd dated 1977

L1A1 Prismatic Compass by W.F Stanley & co Ltd dated 1977

A very Rare British Military issue compass that was only manufactured for a month due to a legal problem between the MOD, Stanley and Barker over rights and the fact that the compass leaked. The story goes that the MOD asked Francis Barker Ltd to develop a new lightweight compass which they did and was called the L1A1, the MOD asked for the final drawing for approval but the owner decided to give them non definitive drawings. The Mod then gave them to Stanley to make but there was a flaw as the drawings were the prototype which had sealing problems. The L1a1 was quickly abandoned as the bubble problem could not be solved. The MOD settled out of court with Barkers for theft of copyright and intellectual property.

Stamped on base

W.F..S  L1A1  ( William Francis Stanley)

Nato stock Number.. 6605-99-531-1510

Serial number... 6596 and date 77

This compass has a large bubble and will not function