Compass - T. Gaunt & Co London and Melbourne
Thomas Gaunt established Melbourne's leading watchmaking, optical and jewelery business during the second half of the 19th century.
Gaunt arrived in Melbourne in 1852, and by 1858 had established his own business in Little Bourke Street. Around 1869 he moved to new premises in Bourke Street on the corner of Royal Arcade.
Thomas Gaunt also developed a department that focused on scientific instrumentation, making thermometers and barometers (from imported glass tubes), telescopes, surveying instruments and microscopes.
Gaunt died in 1890, leaving a substantial estate of 41,453 pounds. The firm continued to operate under the name of T. Gaunt & Co. ( Museum Victoria Collections and Research)
I cannot find any substantiated reference to Gaunt's London connections apart from the description on the face of the compass and the fact that I also purchased the compass from London and bought it to Melbourne. Was it ever in Australia before I purchased it?