marbels compass

enix

enix

Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
452
I just got this in the mail today. While I like the looks and the slight heft it is just a plastic insert inside the brass case. I don't but alot of compasses so I don't know if this is the norm. Anyhow the plastic compass part rattles inside the case, so I was wondering if I could use gorilla glue or something similar to keep it in place. I don't think that this will cause any adverse affects to the working of the compass but like I said I don't have much expirence w/ compasses and didn't want to mess anything up.

I hope this is an appropriate forum to post this in as I hang out here the most, granted, lurking most the time.
 
enix, you have me a little baffled. I have one of these as well, but I don't know what you could be referring to being plastic, except maybe the dial itself.?.? If that is the case, no you don't want to mess with it. The dial has to float freely on a jeweled bearing in order to work properly and it is floating in oil inside the case.
 
ejes, ok I will try to explain better.

The brass part is 3 pieces: 1. The face 2. the ring that goes around the entire compass w/ the lanyard hole attached to that, and 3. The base.

You can unscrew the top and the actuall buisness of the entire compleated compass will come out. Now there are 4 pieces total. The brass face that you look through, the lanyard ring, the bass, and the actuall compass. On mine you can seperate all these pieces and the compass will still work because the oil, spinning part that tells direction and all that is self contained inside a plastic housing. this plastic housing goes inside the bass, then the lanyard ring, then the face screws on.

If this is still confusing I will post pics.

ejes: Does yours rattle, sounds like sterotipic plastic on metal. also when totally assembled you can put your finger through the face and rotate the actuall compass.

TIA, Evan
 
enix said:
ejes, ok I will try to explain better.

The brass part is 3 pieces: 1. The face 2. the ring that goes around the entire compass w/ the lanyard hole attached to that, and 3. The base.

You can unscrew the top and the actuall buisness of the entire compleated compass will come out. Now there are 4 pieces total. The brass face that you look through, the lanyard ring, the bass, and the actuall compass. On mine you can seperate all these pieces and the compass will still work because the oil, spinning part that tells direction and all that is self contained inside a plastic housing. this plastic housing goes inside the bass, then the lanyard ring, then the face screws on.

If this is still confusing I will post pics.

ejes: Does yours rattle, sounds like sterotipic plastic on metal. also when totally assembled you can put your finger through the face and rotate the actuall compass.

TIA, Evan
Click to expand...

I have one as well and understand what your talking about. While I don't think it would goof anything up to glue the compass to it's case, I wouldn't. the reason I say this is sometimes I like to take it out, and throw it in my pocket. Less heavy in the pocket that way. Most of the time I wear it around my neck, and I personally never noticed it "rattling" myself.

If it bothers you, I would say some epoxy would do the trick, and shouldn't affect the compass.
 
enix,

Yes, now I understand. And yes to all of your questions; it does make noise and you can move it. Like tarmix101, it has never bothered me; but now that you've brought it to my attention, it will!! Ha!

I woulds suggest not using any kind of adhesive and maybe just putting some kind of material in the bottom that will actually press the compass up against the retention ring so it doesn't have any play back and forth in there. Maybe a piece of char cloth or vaseline soaked cotton for fire starting would be a good idear.

The reason I wouldn't glue it is that the compass itself is just a pretty cheap replaceable that you can get many places (like suncompany.net); what you've really paid for is the brass case that serves as method to carry it and for some protection. I think the compass is loose so you can just replace it easily if it is ever broken.
 
Tarmix101 and ejes: Thanks for the replies.

I think that the reason that I noticed this right away is that my grandfather has one very similar, also made by marbels. The only differences is that there is no lanyard loop and the dial is much more stylized. It was his when he was a kid when in boy scouts (he is 70-75 now). And it seems that this one can be taken apart but I have never done it because it appears that there is no self contained compass inside.

Anyway, it seems the best answer is the simple answer, put something underneath it(a bit of foam)like tarmix and ejes suggested.

Thanks guys, appreciate your help.
Evan
 
Now its fixed, no rattle. And bonus, I didn't have to wait for glue to dry.
 
I too have one of these compasses. While it sure is a pretty little piece of gear, on the practical side I don't really care for it, my main gripe being that the dial takes a very long time to settle.
 
x39- Really?! mine seems to settle really fast. Even when I try to mess it up.
 
enix, that is interesting, I was wondering how my experience would compare with others.
 
x39: here is a crappy vid, bad light, horriable res, etc. shot with my cellphone but it does show my compass orienting. Hope this helps.

If you have horrialbe eyes or something like that and cant make out the vid just lemme know and I will put up a new/better one later on. ...Will probably do that anyway:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yunkxkQkLMA
 
enix, thank you for your effort, regrettably I have a dial up connection and live at the end of the phone line in my area, which makes viewing video problematic at best. Thanks again though.
 
I, and others I know, have owned many of the more recent Marbles compasses and have found most of them very unreliable with regards to durability. The older Marbles compasses were of much better quality. I have spoken with Marbles about this in the past and they clearly admitted the newer compasses had quality issues.

A nice little compass that I do recommend, about the same size as the Marbles, is made by Tru-Nord Compass. http://www.trunord.com/about/products/
My Tru-Nord compasses have been factory adjusted for the basic declination in my area of the country. Order directly from their shop for this option.
100C-130x180.jpg

I have installed several of the Tru-Nord compasses in traditional bow risers, walking sticks, etc., and have found them to be extremely durable. I don't use these compasses as primary compasses BTW. The base plate compasses are my favorite for orienteering and basic land navigation. However, the small brass compasses are great backup compasses with a very traditional history.
 
I have a Tru-Nord pin on compass, it is a nice piece of gear within the limitations of the type.
 
DannyBoy- GRRRR...guess I should have better researched my purchase just a bit better:D, thanks tho.

My Tru-Nord 100c is on its way.:thumbup:
 
Now I have to order a Tru-Nord. DANG IT! Oh well, my son will be thrilled to have the Marbles.
 
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