Binnacle

Originally, binnacles were small wooden cupboards or boxes. They served as a "guiding light" for sailors, housing the compass alongside a lamp for night navigation. Before the 19th century, the presence of iron in ships often caused significant compass errors, leading to the development of more complex binnacle designs to ensure accuracy. The Kelvin-White Binnacle

: High-quality binnacles were often made of brass or copper to remain non-magnetic and withstand harsh salt-spray environments. Evolution in Modern Sailing binnacle

: These spheres act as "compensators" to neutralize the magnetic interference from the ship’s own hull. Originally, binnacles were small wooden cupboards or boxes