History of the Modern Compass

How Silva Came To Be

The invention of the compass changed the world. With this revolutionary device, sailors were able to navigate more accurately. Oceans were crossed, and new lands were discovered. Even with today's technological innovations, travelers still depend on compasses to lead them in the right direction.

Who Invented the Compass?

Legend has it that the original compass can be traced back to the ancient Chinese. The first known use of a compass occurred in the fourth century B.C. It was used in Feng Shui, the Taoist method of environment organization. Chinese fortunetellers used lodestones, a mineral composed of an iron oxide that aligns itself in a north-south direction, to construct their fortune telling boards. The Chinese eventually noticed that the lodestones were consistent at pointing out actual directions, leading to the first compasses. They designed the compass on a square slab with markings for the cardinal points and the constellations. The pointing needle was a lodestone spoon-shaped device, with a handle that would always point south.

The first written mention of the compass was by a Chinese mathematician in about 1050. Shen Kua wrote about the use of a navigational instrument with a magnetized iron needle. The first recorded instance of European compass use occurred in 1190. Very little was understood, though, about how the compass worked. Superstitions abounded, including sea captains believing that if the crew ate onions it would impact the device. In the centuries that follow, historical references of compass use increases. Arabian and Viking explorers are described using the device to navigate across many miles of water in the early and mid-1200s.

Compass Developments

By the 17th century, the needle was changed to a parallelogram, which was easier to mount upon the pin. An Englishman in 1745, Gowin Knight, developed the Knight compass with a steel needle that would retain its magnetization for longer periods of time. To protect the compass needle, later innovators enclosed it in a metal case. They first used a simple air-filled brass housing in which the needle swung around freely, suspended on a point. These are known today as air compasses or standard compasses.

There still remained problems with the device, however. The magnetic compass needle would swing erratically, and would not come to rest quickly. The most effective way developed to counteract this problem can still be found in today's modern compasses. The answer was to fill the housing with a liquid that slows down the shaking of the needle and brings it to set quickly in the right direction. Current manufacturers closely guard the secret ingredients of their quick-dampening liquid formulas.

Compasses & Orienteering

Orienteering began in Scandinavia in the nineteenth century. It was primarily a military event and was part of navigation training. It was not until 1919 that the modern version of orienteering was created in Sweden as a competitive sport by Ernst Killander.

As orienteering became more popular in the early 1930s, there was a need for a better and more reliable compass. Four notable orienteers at the time, Gunnar Tillander, and brothers Arvid, Alvar, and Björn Kjellström, shared an interest and vision in such an invention. Combining Tillander's instrument making experience and the Kjellström brothers' orienteering background, the four developed a new liquid-filled compass that filled the need. The compass housing revolved on a transparent baseplate that acted as a protractor and direction finder, which allowed it to take a fast and accurate bearing from a map. The magnetic needle stopped moving in the compass liquid within four seconds, as opposed to around 30 seconds in older compasses.

Shortly after this invention, Tillander and the Kjellström brothers combined their technical and marketing skills to form a company. With his technical expertise, Tillander headed the manufacturing end of the business. The Kjellström brothers used their knowledge of publicity and orienteering to handle marketing and sales. A $200 loan from the Kjellström brothers financed the start of production. On December 13, 1933, an agreement was signed establishing the foundation of Silva compasses. The invention and distribution of the new Silva protractor compass also gave the orienteering sport a technical boost.

Silva soon knocked out all competition in Sweden and the company started to export, first to neighboring countries and soon after to other markets. Silva compasses were sold in 25 countries by the end of the 1930s. They were also sold to 14 different defense forces, including the Swedish army. That same army model compass with some modifications is still produced today for military forces all over the world.

Björn Kjellström moved to the United States in 1946 and started Silva Compass Company in La Porte, Indiana. In 1948, he founded Silva Ltd. in Toronto. The company now known as Johnson Outdoors Inc. bought the U.S. company in 1973 and the Canadian company in 1985, and with it the rights to manufacture and market compasses with the Silva brand in North America.

Orienteering in the United States

Björn Kjellström introduced the sport of orienteering to the U.S. in 1946 when he organized events for Boy Scouts. In 1948 he held events in Canada, and supported or organized orienteering events throughout the fifties and sixties. Orienteering especially became popular in the U.S. in the period after World War II, when ROTC programs incorporated it into its training.

Björn also co-founded and helped develop the U.S. Orienteering Federation (USOF) in 1971, serving as director for several years. He remained an ever-present supporter and sponsor of orienteering until his death in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1995.

Since Björn founded Silva in the U.S. in the early 1940s, Silva has been a principal supplier of precise, dependable compasses throughout the U.S. and Canada. Compass designs range from models that are targeted to the beginner to advanced sighting models for the experienced outdoor professional.

Silva's continuing dedication to excellence and quality has resulted in compasses that the modern traveler can use with confidence and trust. All Silva compasses are warranted against defects in workmanship and materials, and the accuracy is guaranteed for life.

Timeline of the modern compass and orienteering: