Navigational and weather instrument manufacturer Weems & Plath is celebrating its 95th year. The company was founded in 1928 by Capt. Philip Van Horn Weems, who was a graduate of and instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, in partnership with his wife, Margaret Thackray Weems, as the Weems System of Navigation.
The Annapolis, Md., company began as a navigation school where students could attend in-person or through correspondence. The business quickly evolved into manufacturing instruments that could be used by students. Courses were offered through the mid-1970s, when the company decided to focus on navigation by serving as a consultant for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.
Some of Weems & Plath’s most popular products remain the parallel plotter (#120), 12-inch parallel rule (#140), and hand bearing compass (#2005).
“We owe it all to our loyal customers who have continued to put their trust in our products, whether it be for recreational boating, military vessels or commercial industries,” company president Michael Flanagan said in a statement. “That’s why we have continued to keep our customers at the forefront of our thoughts when developing new products.”
Weems & Plath’s new product line is the OGM series of LED navigation lights. Made in Annapolis, they will be on display at the power and sailboat shows, scheduled for Oct. 5-8 and 12-15, respectively.
Following company tradition, Weems & Plath will donate 10% of all sales Oct. 14 to the Roslyn and Leonard Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine, in honor of the MD Cures Cancer regatta, one of three regattas that comprise the Triple Crown of Charity Sailing, a fundraising trophy sponsored by Weems & Plath.
