Station Pointer, navigational instrument

Station Pointer, brass navigational instrument which allows positions to be found without the use of magnetic compass and allows compass errors to be calculated. This is essential in the extreme latitudes of the Antarctic as the proximity of the Magnetic Pole makes the magnetic compass dangerously unreliable. Made by Cary, Porter Ltd. Of London, a firm of nautical and scientific instrument makers established in 1765 who were suppliers to the Admiralty. The letters "R.A.N.H.O. 86 " are inscribed on the top of leg and "RANHO 86" on each lower leg and ‘ANT EX 1901’ is inscribed on the middle leg, showing it was used onboard the Discovery during the British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904.