Björn Kjellström
Encyclopedia
Björn Kjellström originally from Sweden
, was a ski orienteering
champion in Sweden and co-founder of the compass
manufacturing company Silva Sweden AB.
In 1932, he helped invent a compass for terrestrial navigation with liquid in the needle housing and a protractor built into the base.
Following World War II, he moved to the United States
, where he founded the U.S. operations of The Silva Company (later Silva, Inc.). Kjellström also founded Silva Orienteering Services to provide training and company sponsorship for the sport in the U.S.
Kjellstrom's 1955 book, "Be Expert With Map and Compass" has sold more than 500,000 copies in English and has been translated into several languages. Later editions remained in print as of 2009.
He co-founded the United States Orienteering Federation
in 1971 and served as vice president of the International Ski Federation
from 1951 to 1979.
In later years, he had lived in Pound Ridge, N.Y., where he helped develop trails in a county park and forest reserve called Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and to produce a detailed orienteering map of the area.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, was a ski orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
champion in Sweden and co-founder of the compass
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
manufacturing company Silva Sweden AB.
In 1932, he helped invent a compass for terrestrial navigation with liquid in the needle housing and a protractor built into the base.
Following World War II, he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he founded the U.S. operations of The Silva Company (later Silva, Inc.). Kjellström also founded Silva Orienteering Services to provide training and company sponsorship for the sport in the U.S.
Kjellstrom's 1955 book, "Be Expert With Map and Compass" has sold more than 500,000 copies in English and has been translated into several languages. Later editions remained in print as of 2009.
He co-founded the United States Orienteering Federation
United States Orienteering Federation
United States Orienteering Federation or USOF is the national governing body for orienteering in the United States. The group announced in August 2010 that it will change its public-facing name to Orienteering USA. It is recognized by the International Orienteering Federation and the United States...
in 1971 and served as vice president of the International Ski Federation
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
from 1951 to 1979.
In later years, he had lived in Pound Ridge, N.Y., where he helped develop trails in a county park and forest reserve called Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and to produce a detailed orienteering map of the area.