Ritchie

In 1850, Physicist Edward S. Ritchie began developing the first U.S. manufactured marine compass. By the year 1900, Ritchie & Sons had sold over 30,000 compasses to merchant vessels based upon the performance of his instruments and without the benefit of ever advertising. Louis A. Sherman founded the Marine Compass Company in 1910. He concentrated on producing smaller instruments for commercial and fishing vessels as well as the emerging yachting markets. In 1951, Marine Compass Company purchased E.S. Ritchie & Sons. The two companies consolidated all operations under the name E.S. Ritchie and Sons and is still owned by the Sherman Family. The company is currently owned by Paul Sherman, grandson of Louis A. Sherman. Research and design changes continue to be an ongoing process at Ritchie. Each compass undergoes a rigid evaluation of materials and performance as a part of a continuous product improvement program.

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