ETS Aime Ledin of St Etienne are one of the few companies left in the world still making properly hand forged high carbon steel compasses and dividers.

The forging process compacts the steel, giving it greater stiffness. The points are fully hardened so they will hold a very sharp point almost indefinitely, care must be taken however to ensure that they are not dropped or struck. The points on some models are slightly angled so that they don't meet, this is intentional and prevents the points from damaging each other when the instrument is closed.

Ledin wing dividers are hinged with a box joint and hot riveted for optimum rigidity.