Binnacle? (It Rhymes with Pinnacle)

June 21, 2011

Our Service & Maintenance division recently completed a unique project for a collector of distinctive historical artifacts. The collector’s designer came across an antique navigation compass in desperate need of repair and we were called-upon to participate in the restoration of this unusual find.

After sending the compass out to a specialty company in Massachusetts, we focused on creating a custom base, restoring the binnacle and mounting the entire unit on a bearing system which allows it to rotate freely. The metal correcting sphere was reattached, the imperfections were touched-up and the brass cap and glass viewing portal were cleaned. When we received the restored compass, the differences were impressive – one could now distinguish on the surface of the compass that it had been fabricated by The Lionel Corporation in 1944.

Our final step in the process was illuminating the compass by removing the existing interior wires and replacing them with LED strip lights that are controlled remotely. The collector is very impressed with the restoration of his newly acquired piece and is eagerly awaiting delivery of the finished product.

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