A George III brass surveyor's sighting compass dial

A George III brass surveyor's sighting compass dial Cole, London, circa 1770-90 The 3 inch circular silvered dial with foliate engraved eight-point compass rose annotated N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and signed Cole, Fecit within scroll cartouches flanking the fleur-de-lys North terminal, the outer margin scale annotated in tens 0-90 for each quadrant and further raised concentric scale calibrated 0-360 , the steel pointer with pin pivot set within glazed moulded bezel applied with a pair of hinged alidades incorporating opposing tension line and hairline slot viewing apertures, the outer edge with further degree scale calibrated 0-360 , the underside with socket and clamp screw for tripod mounting, 10cm (4ins) diameter; with a later base comprising post over moulded brass disc applied to circular wooden plinth, 17.5cm (7ins) diameter overall. Provenance: Private collection, Hampshire. No less than five scientific instrument makers with the surname Cole are recorded in Clifton, Gloria Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 as working in London during the latter half of the 18th century. However Benjamin Cole (II), who is recorded as working from The Orrery (next the Globe Tavern) 1768-82 then 136 Fleet Street until 1785, is perhaps the most likely candidate as he is known to have produced surveying instruments including sighting compasses with folding alidades.