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Welcome to my museum of navigational instruments made or sold by John Bliss and his successors.
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This museum showcases the three nautical instrument companies run by John Bliss (1795-1857) and his descendents. I'm from a different branch of the family, so am not a descendent of his. The three companies are BLISS & CREIGHTON (1835-1853), JOHN BLISS & SON (1853-1857), and JOHN BLISS & CO. (1857-1956), all of New York City. James Bliss Marine of Boston is a different company (also founded in 1835) with no connection to the New York companies, except that, like me, there is a distant family relationship. James Bliss was acquired by West Marine and no longer exists.
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I have provided this internet museum on the assumption that others will find this information as interesting as I do. Apparently many do, and I appreciate your positive comments.
PLEASE NOTE: I collect nautical instruments; I'm not a dealer, and none of these items is for sale. I cannot provide a value for your instrument, but am glad to provide whatever other information I can. I would love to hear about Bliss instruments which you may have, and of course I'm always interested in hearing about Bliss items that are for sale.
Click on the thumbnails below for more pictures and information about my Bliss instruments.
BLISS & CREIGHTON No. 2076
c. 1853
Has the Bliss &Creighton Patent balance
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JOHN BLISS & SON No. 2484
c. 1855
Has the Bliss &Creighton Patent balance
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JOHN BLISS & CO. No. 3086
Break Circuit Chronometer
1911
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JOHN BLISS & CO. No. 68 SPIRIT BOAT COMPASS, 3 in. card
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JOHN BLISS & CO. DRY CARD COMPASS
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JOHN BLISS & CO. SMALL BOX COMPASS
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JOHN BLISS & CO. No. 63 SPIRIT COMPASS 5-1/4 in. card
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JOHN BLISS & CO. IMPROVED AZIMUTH INSTRUMENT
c.1909
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JOHN BLISS & CO. STATUTE MILE LOG
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JOHN BLISS & CO. TAFFRAIL LOG
Made between 1878 & 1881
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JOHN BLISS & CO. "AMERICAN" TAFFRAIL LOG
Made between 1885 & 1893
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BLISS MARK II SHIP LOG
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BLISS PARALLEL RULES
Brass, 18", w/protractor, stamped "295" on back,
unknown date, presumed 20th cent.
Photos courtesy Stephen Lebduska, NY.
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JOHN BLISS & CO.
Chelsea Ship's Bell Clock, c. 1930 4.5" diam. with simple, possibly home-made, wooden base. 4 inch silvered dial, "John Bliss & Co." printed on dial, now very faded.
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JOHN BLISS & CO. MARINE BINOCULARS
1907
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Hezzanith endless screw sextant, originally made in 1920 for Christie & Wilson of Glasgow, sold second hand by Bliss; see Bliss label on back of lid.
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BLISS & CREIGHTON
COIN SILVER SPOON
John Bliss trained as a jeweler & silversmith, and opened his first shop in New York City as a jeweler. I believe this spoon is correct for the period around 1836 when Bliss & Creighton began.
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BLISS PUBLICATONS & EPHEMERA
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Text copyright Norman Bliss 2002-2011
Page created 6/9/02.
Modified 3/1/12
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