Compass box E.O. Richter & Co. Germany, ca. 1920.

Compass box E.O. Richter & Co. Germany, ca. 1920. Metal and wood.

Complete set of technical drawing instruments in original varnished wooden case, with black velvet lined interior and gilt "Präcision - E.O. Richter & Co." signature label. The box includes a varied collection of compasses, bow compasses, bow lines, extension cords, spare parts and adapters. Among them is the eccentric whisker (also known as "crazy whisker"), an instrument developed by the firm to draw small-diameter circles with extreme precision, as well as an automatic line puller, designed to achieve constant lines in thickness and cleanliness.
All the instruments are made of metal, with turned details and high precision joints, a distinctive feature of the E.O. Richter & Co. workshops, recognized as one of the world's leading manufacturers of precision instruments during the first half of the 20th century.

State of preservation: Exhibits wear consistent with age and use, and metallic patina. The locking system of the case remains functional.

Measurements of the box: 4,5 x 23 x 18,5 cm.

The history of the compass as a precision instrument dates back to Ancient Greece, where it was used in geometric demonstrations and mathematical studies. While earlier civilizations such as the Egyptians used taut strings to trace curves, the compass evolved as a creative tool, passing through Roman, Islamic and Renaissance hands. From the 17th century onwards, the rise of navigation, cartography and engineering led to the birth of workshops specializing in scientific instruments, many of which produced ornate compasses.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the development of precision mechanics and the Industrial Revolution gave rise to manufactures such as E.O. Richter & Co. founded in Saxony, Germany. At the beginning of the 20th century, this company became one of the most important in the world in the manufacture of compasses and technical drawing tools, standing out for its innovation, such as the development of the eccentric whisker.
This set represents a piece of technical heritage, not only for its manufacturing quality and completeness, but also as a material testimony of the rise of technical drawing as a fundamental discipline in engineering, architecture and technical education of the time.