A total of five patents were attributable to Colonel William Willoughby Cole Verner between 1887 and 1895. Of these only three were granted.
Please note this is work in progress and so at this stage must be considered as incomplete. It is not yet clear to me if any of these patents can be considered significant, if nothing else Verner deserves recognition for being a prolific patentee.
GB4198 of 1887 Verner, W.W.C. “Surveying or Military Sketching Boards”.
Military sketching boards were important at this time and incorporated a compass at the top of the board and two rollers which held the paper that was sketched.
GB877 of 1889 Verner, W. “Magnetic & Sight Compass”.
Patent not yet inspected.
GB8581 of 1889 Verner, W. “Clinometer for Surveying”.
This patent was not granted.
GB11253 of 1889 Verner, W.W.C. “Portable Boards or Tables”.
This patent was not granted.
GB24331 of 1895 Verner W.W.C. “Night Marching Instrument”
Also filed under the title “An Improved Course-indicating Instrument for Military, Exploration, and other Purposes”. .This patent is primarily addressing the design of a gimballed marching compass for use at night with transit sights.
Acknoledgements
Appreciate the efforts of the British Library in their assistance and in particular Ziaad Khan who undertook this research.