robertmackayclan

The Surveyor's Compass originally owned by Andrew McKay (son of Robert McKay Jr. & Patience Job) is now in the possession of Jeff Lock who restores antique instruments.

This compass was made by Goldsmith Chandlee who was a personal friend of Andrew's and is mentioned in his will.

Here's a link to the page with it's description:

http://www.colonialinstruments.com/pop/i_GChand1.htm

He is very interested in trying to return this piece to any descendant of Andrew McKay before selling it to someone else.

He's willing to work with any of you in regards to purchasing this item.

If interested, please call Jeff Lock at 1-330-633-2909 and tell him that Michael McKay referred you to him.

I am very interested in seeing this returned to family hands or else displayed in a museum where we can all enjoy it.

(P.S. I think it would be a good display item for the Collett-McKay Picnic this August.)

To the McKay family,

As mentioned by Michael McKay, I would like to place this important Goldsmith Chandlee compass within the family from which it originally came. I have turned down offers to sell this instrument hoping that it could find it's proper home within the McKay family. To give you a frame of reference on what Goldsmith Chandlee instruments have sold for, visit: http://www.greenvalleyauctions.com/Auct ... ights.html and scroll down to the fourth listing showing the "G. Chandlee Winchester" compass that sold for $23,100 on Nov 12, 2004. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at info@colonialinstruments.com.

Jeff Lock

I Talked To Jeff Lock Several Weeks Ago And He Gave Me A Price Of A Lesser Dollar Amount Then The $17,000.00 Price Tag That He Has Given You All.The Reason He Gave Me For The Price Increase Was That He Had Someone Send Him Research Connecting This Chandlee Compass To Andrew McKay Of Frederick Co., Va. I Live In Strasburg, VA. And Am A Land Surveyor In Winchester. When I Called Mr. Lock Back To Buy This Particular Compass, He Basically Told Me That He Was In Negoations With The McKay Family And They Seemed Like They Were Going To Purchase This Piece For More Than He Originally Offered It To Me For. Mr. Lock Is Only Interested In One Thing-$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. He Who Lives By The Dollar Dies By The Dollar. Please Give Me A Call To Discuss This Matter Further @ 540-459-4715. CARL J. Rinker, Jr., Surveyor.

I would like to take a moment to clarify for our family members Mr. Rinker’s recent post regarding the Goldsmith Chandlee compass owned by Andrew McKay.

Carl Rinker initially contacted me inquiring as to the signature, “A. McKay” on a surveyors compass, at which point I told him I believed it to be Andrew McKay. However, Mr. Rinker did not disclose all the details - namely the compass maker (later found out to be Goldsmith Chandlee, a personal friend of Andrew’s). From that conversation I would like to know how you, Carl, assumed that members of our family would not be interested in the compass. Instead, Carl Rinker offered Jeff Lock $14,500 for the compass, an offer that Mr. Lock turned down because he wanted the compass to be returned to the McKay family.

Although I do not have the means of purchasing this compass myself, it is my desire that it be returned to family hands; Jeff Lock and I have been working on a plan to make that happen. Just because the details have not been posted on our forum does not mean that we aren't working on this. One goal is to have it displayed in a local museum for all to enjoy either by ownership of the museum or by joint ownership within our family kept on loan at a museum.

Jeff Lock and I have been working on a plan that would make it easier for members of our family to contribute toward purchasing this compass with the added bonus that Mr. Lock has agreed that if we can raise $13,500, he would underwrite the remaining balance. It is not that he has anything against Carl Rinker owning this compass, but he feels strongly that it should be returned to our family’s possession, even to the point of accepting a lower figure than Mr. Rinker has offered him.

Folks: What Happened To The Goldsmith Chandlee Compass Marked A. McKay That You All Were Going To Purchase From Jeff Lock? I Was Hoping To See This Instrument First Handed In Winchester At Some Museum. I Haven't Seen Anything On Your Website That Address' This Old Compass Since The Original Correspondence. What's Up? CARL

I would like to take a moment to clarify for our family members Mr. Rinker’s recent post regarding the Goldsmith Chandlee compass owned by Andrew McKay.

Carl Rinker initially contacted me inquiring as to the signature, “A. McKay” on a surveyors compass, at which point I told him I believed it to be Andrew McKay. However, Mr. Rinker did not disclose all the details - namely the compass maker (later found out to be Goldsmith Chandlee, a personal friend of Andrew’s). From that conversation I would like to know how you, Carl, assumed that members of our family would not be interested in the compass. Instead, Carl Rinker offered Jeff Lock $14,500 for the compass, an offer that Mr. Lock turned down because he wanted the compass to be returned to the McKay family.

Although I do not have the means of purchasing this compass myself, it is my desire that it be returned to family hands; Jeff Lock and I have been working on a plan to make that happen. Just because the details have not been posted on our forum does not mean that we aren't working on this. One goal is to have it displayed in a local museum for all to enjoy either by ownership of the museum or by joint ownership within our family kept on loan at a museum.

Jeff Lock and I have been working on a plan that would make it easier for members of our family to contribute toward purchasing this compass with the added bonus that Mr. Lock has agreed that if we can raise $13,500, he would underwrite the remaining balance. It is not that he has anything against Carl Rinker owning this compass, but he feels strongly that it should be returned to our family’s possession, even to the point of accepting a lower figure than Mr. Rinker has offered him.

As a descendant of Goldsmith Chandlee (on my mother's side) I greatly appreciate your attempts to see this piece back in family hands and/or displayed in a museum. As I have done our family history, I have come to admire the Chandlee tradition of craftsmanship and pride in their work. I wish you great success in your endeavor to place this important heirloom where it will be safe and available for many to enjoy. Thank you for caring about family history and connection.
~Judith Blanchard, Sacramento, CA

I'm glad you mentioned this. It is my desire that the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley will purchase this instrument and display it in their museum at the Glen Burnie Estate in Winchester, VA.

I had been meaning to contact the curator there for quite some time. Last time I tried to contact them the person I needed to talk to was away on vacation so I never got a chance to follow up on this.

I'll see about getting a message to them about it.

It was deemed out of our financial reach at our Virginia McKay reunion of 2006 and I saw no need to persue it at the Collett-McKay Picnic in Ohio because I know I would have gotten the same answer there.

However, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley does purchase items like these so there's a chance it will be bought by them once I can connect with the right person.

I'm sorry it's taken so long to try and resolve this issue.

I have a G. B. Graves compass (made with parts bought from the Chandlee Estate, Graves was Chandlee's apprentice). I'm looking for a museum to loan the compass to. G. B. Graves lived in Winchester and his Circumferentors were exactly like Chandlees.

I recommend contacting the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and see what they say about lending it to them. Here is their website URL:

http://www.shenandoahmuseum.org/

I have a G. B. Graves compass (made with parts bought from the Chandlee Estate, Graves was Chandlee's apprentice). I'm looking for a museum to loan the compass to. G. B. Graves lived in Winchester and his Circumferentors were exactly like Chandlees.

The Graves Circumferentor has been on the display at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Arkansas State Capital and the Lewis & Clark Boathouse Museum.