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William Henry Harling founded the firm in 1851. They specialised in making drawing instruments, with a factory at Grosvenor Works, Hackney, London EC. According to Scott-Scott they ceased making instruments to the traditional pattern in 1929 and changed to flat pattern ones. In 1964, having merged with Blundell Rules Ltd in 1961 to form Blundell Harling, they moved to Weymouth.
A traditional pattern set dating from about 1900 in a Morocco leather covered case.

A Harling "Woolwich" case of electrum instruments (missing large compass, dividers & pencil bow). Under the large protractor there is a pair of vulcanite set squares and in the bottom compartment there are a set of marquois scales and a number of scale rules, all signed Harling. I have since obtained and fitted a replacement compass.
A top quality set of small size drawing instruments in a Russian leather pocket case (rather distressed). The needle points are all of the screw off type also associated with instruments by A G Thornton and J Halden. The set comprises a 4 1/2” compass with pen, pencil and needle inserts and two extension bars, hair dividers, pen and pencil bows, three spring bows, two ruling pens and a pricker, a knife key and two other compass keys, and two ivory containers with screw off tops, one for needles and the other for leads. Under the flap in the lid is a 5” ivory protractor signed J Casartelli, Manchester. Originally the property of an architect.
Harling Patent Cone-Fitting Compass in mahogany case with simple machined pockets for the instruments. The label has the addresses: Office: 40 Hatton Garden, London EC and Factory: Grosvenor Works, Hackney E on it dating the set to pre-1888. The label also lists the “Special Merits” of the set and “Instructions for Fitting”. They were “Warranted London-Made”.
A later cone-fitting set. The compass and other parts from the set above have been used to complete this one. This was a later set. The address on the blue oil-cloth lining to the lid is 47 Finsbury Pavement. Probably early 20th century as the box is comb-jointed.

These sets were indeed a very serviceable alternative to the cheap foreign sets then flooding the student and school market. The long joint head of the compass is well made with two steels but the other hinged joints are much cruder being just brass.
Early twentieth century set by W H Harling, Finsbury Pavement, London. Unusually this set has a set of Swiss pattern beam compass fittings instead of a compass half set. The instruments are electrum and of the highest quality. The upper ruling pen is a litho pen by Lotter, and not by Harling. The case is morocco covered and lined with blue silk and velvet.
Bow compass set, number 775 in the 1930 catalogue.
A cased set of three spring bows by W H Harling which date from the early twentieth century. Having plain steel points they are not of the highest quality.
Spring bows were used for drawing small circles and for marking off or measuring small distances on a drawing.
Government flat pattern dividers dating from 1941. This pattern was originally known as the “British Empire” pattern
A government flat pattern set dating from 1953, code W10/VC/5841.
I also have a smaller, incomplete set of similar instruments, code HO758 (Royal Navy hydrographic office).
British Empire series BE112A set dating from ca.1936. The instruments are electrum and stainless steel and the pens have ivory handles. The wallet case is covered in black leathercloth and lined with blue velvet.
This fine set is in as new condition. Besides the usual compass, dividers, bow compasses, spring bows and ruling pens this set contains a pricker and a set of roller beam compass fittings.
British Empire series set BE106A. The series was introduced in the early 1920s, but this set is probably post WW2 as the pen handles are ivorine rather than ivory.

The wallet case is covered in black leathercloth and lined with blue velvet. The instruments are electrum and steel.
This flat pattern “Technical Series” student's set in a wallet case probably dates from the 1930s.
This Harling, London set contains two ‘Centex’ beam compasses. The larger one has three triangular section, tubular, aluminium beams and ink, pencil lead and needle points. It extends to 28 inches. The smaller one has a 5½  inch beam and again has ink, pencil lead and needle points. It was intended to take the place of the normal type of compass. The legs of the spring bows have a black finish. The zip fastening case is leather and lined with black silk and velvet. Ca. 1960.
A bright nickel plated brass & stainless steel flat pattern set said to date from 1971. This would have been the original owner’s purchase date - it was almost certainly made in the 1960s, probably after the move to Weymouth, although the case is labelled “Harling, London”.
A set of roller type beam compass fittings, probably dating from the 1950s. These were supplied to fit a wooden lath, which was available in a range of lengths.
Roller pattern beam compass with three Duralumin beam sections. The fittings are smaller than those above because the metal beam is of smaller section than the wooden lath. The case is vinyl. It is in mint condition and still has its original guarantee certificate. Blundell Harling also made a longer version with two further beam sections and the foam lining to the bottom of the case has two removable sections to accommodate these. In spite of the Harling, London name on the pen wipe it was made after the Blundell takeover as the name on the guarantee certificate is Blundell Harling with a London address, probably dating it to between 1961 and 1964 when they moved to Weymouth. The beam to beam joint has been changed from that in use from the 1920s to 1950s.,
A fine, fifteen inch, boxwood & lacquered brass, parallel rule for navigational use by W H Harling, 117 Moorgate, London. The makers were at this address in the 1930s. It has a fine, fitted mahogany box.
A set of Harling  spring bows with Harling’s patented central screw adjustment. These were catalogued from 1930 until the 1950s at least. Patent no 35186/20.
A 1970s Harling springbow
Harling detail pen and Harling road pen. The latter is Harling’s offset pattern to allow a better view of both nibs.
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A three tier case believed to be by Harling (the three pens are signed Harling). The mahogany case is brass bound. The upper tray contains the usual full set of electrum instruments whilst the middle tray has eleven cakes of water colour by Reeves & Sons embossed on the reverse with the broad arrow and Council of India. The Council of India was the governing body from 1773 to 1920. The case bottom has the usual compartments for a protractor and parallel rule but these are empty. Probably ca. 1870.
A Harling set made for the UK government in 1937. The instruments in the tray are British Empire pattern but the pens are by Thornton and dated 1935 and 1936. The boxwood scale rule is a later addition.
A set of three brass stencil plates for numbers and fractions in the original W H Harling paper envelope. Probably early 20th century.
Harling 4.25 inch semi-circular electrum protractor, probably from a case of drawing instruments.
A boxed set of 46 architect’s stencils dated 1915. The set comprises 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 inch alphabets (9 plates each), !/2 inch numbers (4 plates) and the following words:Front, Side, Back, End, On Line, Elevation, Section,
Plan, Second Floor, First Floor, Ground, Basement, Scale  Feet to an Inch, and lastly a north point. There is also a stipple brush. The set is complete.
The Blundell Harling Arcliner described as “The Drawing System for the Eighties” in their 1980 catalogue. A revolutionary alternative to the conventional drawing compass, the 15mm diameter socket could accommodate technical pens and clutch pencils as well as ordinary pencils and could draw circles up to 150mm radius. There was also a beam compass version for circles up to 1m radius. Mostly made of plastic it came in a vacuum formed PVC case.
Sharp’s Universal Drawing Scale Copyright Rd. No. 196267 (1892). A 12” double sided boxwood scale made by W H Harling, 47 Finsbury Pavement, London. The upper face has the following scales from top to bottom: 1/8, 1/4, 1 1/2, 3 IN, 1/2 SIZE, FULL SIZE, 1 IN, 1/2 IN. The lower face has cm and inch (x 1/50) scales.
A set of ink and pencil lead bow compasses in a Morocco case, probably dating from the late nineteenth century. They are double jointed with plain needle points and made of electrum.

Harling BE114A British Empire pattern drawing set in a black leatherette covered wallet case dating from the 1950s. This set did not have a 6” compass as the beam compass could be used for the same purpose. The pens and pricker have Erinoid handles and the larger pen is Harling’s Quick Set type.

W H Harling, 40 Hatton Garden set of elctrum and ivory instruments. The address dates them to 1880 - 1888. The protractor and parallel rule are unsigned but are likely to be original to the set. The protractor has seen very little if any use whilst the parallel rule has seen a lot of use.

Blundell Harling 0951.95 set of Intertech, Bavaria  instruments made for the UK military NSN 6675-99-800-7125, The set is pencil only and has some unusual features, notably having two identical spring bows (one fitted with a needle point instead of pencil lead so used as a divider) and spare screws/centre wheels for both sizes of spring bow. The plastic case is lined with soft black foam and that has perished below the instruments that are housed in a sheet of high density foam.

Brass divider with screw on sheath signed “Harling London” dating from the early 20th century. 5.2 inches LOA.

Ivory & electrum border pen, signed “Harling”. Unusually the blades are entirely electrum and not steel.

Boxed set of W H Harling boxwood chain scales dating from the 1890s with their matching offsets. One each of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 links to the inch and equivalent feet. Mahogany case lined with blue silk and velvet. All the scales and offsets are stamped with the original owner’s name, W H Gale