A rare early Bartholomew map covering USSR, Poland, Finland, Denmark, etc. It is sheets R2 and R3. Note how it has been cut too small and the map image is partially obscured by the hemming. It is shown with the British 'blood chit' for Russia.
A rare early Bartholomew map covering USSR, Poland, Finland, Denmark, etc. It is sheets R2 and R3. Note how it has been cut too small and the map image is partially obscured by the hemming. It is shown with the British 'blood chit' for Russia.
This map is a fairly common 44 series map showing sheets G and H and in fact is not in very good condition as it is somewhat faded, however, what makes is interesting is the yellow edging. The edging around the map has clearly come from yellow supply parachute. Post war many maps were altered into various things including scarfs and clothing (I have shown a map converted into a table mat and egg cosies earlier in the thread) and it is possible that this map has been turned into some sort of table cloth, however, I wonder if the edging has been added as use for some sort of aircraft recognition panel. My thought behind this is the fact that it is clear that off cuts of parachute have been used in a haphazard fashion and there has been no attempt to make it look nice and neat if you were intending it to be used on a table, etc.
I have shown it with the dyed map of Burma
Last edited by Grimebox; 01-06-2021 at 11:51 AM.
Another example of the smallest escape compass that was made. As can be seen, it is slightly larger than my other example both in width and height.
Another example of an American escape compass. It is nearly identical although the letters are slightly crisper. Almost all of these compasses that I have seen have the 'crazing' around the edge where they have degraded over time.
If like me, you have any WWII escape compasses with missing or damaged glass, risking the loss of the compass card and leaving the compass looking more like a relic, than a valuable and rare collectors item, I may be able to help...
I had a batch of lenses specially made to replace the lenses of three of mine, but had to buy batches of 6 each, so I have 3 of each type left.
These lenses fit either large escape buttons, or standard MI9 escape compasses, or the small forage cap, or the stand alone miniature compasses, sometimes seen with the tiny screw in the back. (See images below).
If anyone needs a replacement glass, the small glass (approx 6.7mm) lenses are £20.00, large lenses (approx 14mm) are £22.50.
If anyone is interested, feel free to PM me.
This is a single sided Bartholomew map sheet K covering Cyrenaica. It is shown alongside the double sided version, sheet K1/K2
Folks,
I am trying to build a definitive list of Escape Button compasses produced. Many can now be seen on the web, but if anyone has, or has seen in other collections or museums, any buttons beyond those listed below, please post them. Has anyone seen an RAAF button?
The list so far:
Royal Engineers
Royal Artillery
Reconnaissance Corps
General Service button
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Royal Air Force
RNZAF
RCAF
Polish Air Force
USAAF
Australian Armed Forces
New Zealand Armed Forces
British General Officer's button
Royal Navy
Royal Marines
(Fleet Air Arm) - described but not seen.
So please reply with any escape buttons you come across, beyond the above list.
Many thanks again everyone
TB
Last edited by Truebrit; 04-21-2017 at 08:41 PM. Reason: Error in text
A rare Bartholomew map showing the Malay Peninsula (and a bonus at only £3!)
I believe that it is the only Bartholomew map that covers the Far East. It is also a large size ( for a Bartholomew map) at 64cm x 51cm. It is sheet MP1.
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