A fine set of English drawing instruments housed in a silver mounted, shagreen, flip-top case. The metal instruments are brass with steel points and are comprised of: dividers; compass with divider, ink and crayon inserts; ruling pen with protracting pin in handle; ink bow compass.
The ivory rectangular protractor and sector are both signed Jacob & Halse. There is also an ebony and brass parallel rule.
The instruments date from c1809/1810.
The instruments from the Jacob & Halse set. There should also be a knife key and a pencil holder, which are the only items missing.
A typical set of late eighteenth century drawing instruments housed in a fish skin, flip-top case.
The metal instruments comprise: a compass with divider, ink, dotting wheel pen and crayon points; dividers; ruling pen and pencil holder/eraser. They are made of brass with steel points and are of considerably cruder manufacture than those in the Jacob & Halse set
There are also a boxwood plotting scale and a brass protractor (not shown). The set is unsigned.
A small but very high quality set by the Dutch maker H. Meeuwig, den Oude Gracht (the Old Canal), Haarlem, contained in a leather covered pocket case with typically continental bolt fastening to the case. It dates from the 2nd half of the nineteenth century.
Each country had its own style. These are heavily made in brass and steel with distinctive scroll ornamentation. There is a separate holder for a pencil lead which can be placed in the pencil insert for the compass.
A Georgian set, circa 1800, in a mahogany box lined with red velvet. The pencil insert for the compass and possibly two bow compasses or a pencil are missing.
Mid 19th century brass set, probably for student use. The compass and dividers have long joint heads and the fixed leg of the compass has no knee joint. The ruling pen has a block nib and does not open for cleaning. The compass inserts are retained by a screw in the old manner.The pencil bow and protractor are replacements. The mahogany box is lined with blue velvet and the protractor is stored behind a flap inside the lid.
It is very difficult to date these sets and it could have been made at any time between about 1830 and 1880, or possibly even 1900..
By early sets I mean ones that have been made before about 1850. Pocket sets were typically housed in fishskin or shagreen covered cases, sometimes called etuis, like the Jacob & Halse set below. Larger sets might be housed in mahogany boxes like the William Elliott one shown in the Elliott Bros page. Most instruments in this period were made of brass, although silver was used for sets for the rich. Nickel silver was introduced towards the end of the period.