Box sextant by W F Stanley in oxidised brass with silver scale and vernier, probably early 20th century, in excellent working order
4” diameter prismatic surveying compass signed on the lid (not shown) F B & S (1932) Ltd with a broad arrow and B 2163. Aluminium compass ring divided to 30 minutes. Case stamped GBO over 1 in a circle. There is a tripod socket under the base. Probably mid-20th century. Possibly made by Francis Barker & Son (1932) Ltd., as the lid is aluminium and the rest is brass so the lid may have been changed.
2.5” diameter compass card, Hutchinson’s improved prismatic compass probably dating from the 19th century. Another surveying compass. These were made by a number of makers from about 1860 to the mid-20th century.
The prismatic compass is similar to the one above but is signed around the centre of the compass card J Hicks 8, 9 & 10 Hatton Garden London. Underneath is the clinometer signed J Hicks maker 8 Hatton Garden London. It is also marked Watkin’s Clinometer patent 217 and No. 7160. The patent was granted in 1884. This example probably dates from the end of the 19th century. This type of clinometer has an internal pendulum and scale which rotate under gravity. When a feature is sighted through the eye hole in the side of the case the angle of inclination or depression can be seen alongside in the reflection from a mirror.
The leather sling case is well worn and missing the sides of the cover, two loops, and the shoulder strap.
The leather sling case is well worn and missing the sides of the cover, two loops, and the shoulder strap.
Lawrence & Mayo combined prismatic compass and clinometer dating from ca. 1890. Patent No. 1926. Serial No. 4981. The compass is of the Hutchinson’s type. W F Stanley calls this Barker’s Combined Prismatic Compass and Clinometer. When used as a clinometer the weighted clinometer card is released by pulling the knob at the top. Held vertically it is sighted in the same way as when used as a compass and the clinometer card read through the prism, which can be raised to suit. It can also be used to measure the slope of a surface by direct reading through the lower glass. There is a tripod or staff screw under the base plate for when it is used as a compass.
India pattern clinometer made by UIC for the British Government (probably the War Department). It was used to measure the elevation or declination of buildings and topographical features, mounted on a plane table and levelled using the screw behind the back sight. The aperture in the foresight can be raised or lowered with the thumb wheel until the cross wire coincides with the top of the feature being measured. There are a degree scale (to the left) and a tangent scale (to the right) on the front sight which enable the height to be calculated or found from tables if the horizontal distance is known.
This one probably dates from the 1950s. The case is marked MkVI F.Ltd and numbered 115 under the broad arrow. The instrument is stamped with the UIC trade mark, B 8300 (probably a catalogue number) and the broad arrow. This type of clinometer was originally designed for the survey of India in the 19th century, hence its name.
12” boxwood and brass folding alidade by J H Steward Ltd, 457 Strand, London. Originally the property of Bedford College, London, Geographical Department, the stamp of which is impressed in both the alidade and its leather case.
The edge scales are yards 6” to the mile and 2” to the mile.
It probably dates from the first quarter of the 20th century.
The edge scales are yards 6” to the mile and 2” to the mile.
It probably dates from the first quarter of the 20th century.
Elliott Bros, London Abney level no 1796, registered no 5205, It has a Morocco covered card case. The design, by Capt. Abney, was registered in 1884 and this level is an early example , probably dating from the end of the 19th century. Behind the top bar is a level tube which is rotated by the milled hand wheel. In use the object of which the height is to be determined is sighted through the instrument and the bubble tube is rotated until the bubble, viewed in a mirror in the sighting tube, is brought to the same position as the top of the sighted object.
This 19th century Abney level is unsigned. It has a magnifier and the angle scales are divided to + 90 degrees whilst the Elliott one is only divided to + 60 degrees.. Unlike my other Abneys the mirror is in its early position across the top half of the tube rather than at one side. The morocco covered, silk & velvet lined case is unusual for an instrument intended to be used in the field.
Mk 5 Abney level by H H S, B837 dating from 1944. It has a leather case stamped with the broad arrow and PIC 1944 Mk V 33. It has an extending sighting tube. The outer knurled sector is used for coarse adjustment and the inner knurled wheel for fine adjustment. It is missing its magnifier for reading the vernier. The scales are similar to those of the Mk IV above.
Clinometer Field Mark III ↑ by J Pitkin & Co No 237 dated 1905. These were used by the military for measuring/setting the elevation of gun barrels prior to the introduction of specialist sight clinometers. The arc is graduated in degrees and the level moves on a finely curved cross member giving a reading to one minute of arc. The end of the cross member is sprung so that it can be disengaged from the rack inside the arc for moving. In America these are known as gunner’s quadrants. Prior to the use of the field clinometer a Watkin Clinometer was used for measuring/setting the quadrant elevation.
Two unsigned pocket telescopes described below
Three drawer telescope with leather covered outer tube, pull-off objective cover and sliding eyepiece cover. Length overall 15.3”, closed 5.6”; objective diameter 0.9”. Cloth case.
Three drawer telescope with mahogany veneer covered outer tube, objective lens hood, pull-off objective cover and sliding eyepiece cover. Length overall 18.6”, closed 6.1”; objective diameter 1.1”.. English, probably ca.1900.
“Quick Focus Rifleman” telescope by J H Steward Ltd of London. A two draw telescope shown partially open and closed, signed on the inner draw. Length overall 23¼”, closed 11½“. Objective diameter 1.25”. Missing lens hood but in good working order.
Broadhurst Clarkson & Co Ltd, 63 Farringdon Road, London EC four draw telescope, 33” long overall (36” with hood extended). Objective diameter 2 3/8”. Four powers marked on eyepiece draw: 25, 30, 35 & 40 times magnification. Leather missing from outer tube which is quite battered. Bright and very powerful scope. Probably ca.1900.
The Shore Instrument & Mfg Co, Jamaica, NY, USA “Durometer” Type A hardness tester for rubber, serial no 10031 with rubber support and blue velvet lined case.
Pine box of microscope slides with twelve trays, each of six slides (72 slides total). Mostly professionally prepared Histology slides (of plant sections). Four trays by Abraham Flatters, 16 & 18 Church Road, Longsight, Manchester; four trays by A J Galloway, Salisbury. Odd slides by Richard Suter, 10 Highweek Road, Tottenham; J H Steward, 406 Strand, London.
Flatters was born in 1848. He was making microscope slides at 16 Church Road from 1895 to 1901, when he went into partnership with Charles Garnett.
Flatters was born in 1848. He was making microscope slides at 16 Church Road from 1895 to 1901, when he went into partnership with Charles Garnett.
A hand held polarimeter, the two optical tubes each have a lens at each end and a Nicol prism in between. Neither rotates so it was possibly a dichroiscope for examining gem stones or crystals, which would have been held in wax on the end of a stick and rotated between the two optical tubes.
L S Starrett, Atholl, Mass., USA speed indicator, patented April 19th 1897. Used for measuring the speed of rotation of shafts in machinery, such as lathes. Unlike the instrument above, which has a built in stop watch, this had to be used in conjunction with a separate stop watch. Early 20th century.
Elliott Bros speed indicator no. 23181. Depending on where the adapter is attached it has three speed ranges: 100-
Pullin Optics rangefinder and leather case. The rangefinder has a large dial in the centre which is rotated to bring the two images into coincidence, when viewed through the eyepiece, which is in the centre on the opposite side to the dial. The range (from 1½ ft to infinity) can then be read from the dial. Length overall 3.4”, baseline 2.4”. Originally the property of a civil engineer, it is not clear whether he used this for his work or as a photographic rangefinder. Serial number 471126.
A ‘Tabor’ steam engine indicator made by The Ashcroft Manufacturing Co., Bridgeport, Ct, USA serial no. 5686. Patented Dec. 10th 1878 and Nov. 24th 1885. It has a comprehensive set of accessories including five piston springs (20, 24, 30, 40, 60), a spare drum spring, cord for attaching to the engine crosshead (via a reducing lever), oil bottle, two screwdrivers and four scales by Dobbie McInnes. The latter are contained within a tray that fits in the box. It would have been supplied with two engine cocks but these would have been fitted to the cylinder of the engine and remained there to allow the indicator to be removed when not required. There would also have been a pack of 100 cards to go on the drum but these would have been used, and a screwdriver which is missing. It is also missing the 300 page book that would have been supplied with it. However these are items that one would expect to have been used or misplaced in its life and it is in excellent condition, being about 100 years old. From the diagram produced the mean effective pressure in the cylinder could be found and the indicated horsepower calculated.
IHP = Pm.L.A.N/33000 where Pm = mean effective pressure, L= piston stroke, A=piston area, N=engine rpm. This would be measured for each cylinder, the values added together being the engine IHP. If the cylinders were double acting (admitting steam to both sides of the piston) then the sum would need to be multiplied by 2 to give the IHP unless each end of the cylinder was measured separately.
IHP = Pm.L.A.N/33000 where Pm = mean effective pressure, L= piston stroke, A=piston area, N=engine rpm. This would be measured for each cylinder, the values added together being the engine IHP. If the cylinders were double acting (admitting steam to both sides of the piston) then the sum would need to be multiplied by 2 to give the IHP unless each end of the cylinder was measured separately.
A Dobbie-McInnes No. 1, Large Size, engine indicator for engine speeds up to 250 rpm. It is housed in a mahogany box with six further springs, a spare drum spring and a spanner. Unlike the indicator above which has the pressure resisting spring located within the cylinder, this indicator is of the external spring type and the spring can be clearly seen between the piston and the straight line mechanism for the pen. As above the instruction book and charts are missing. It dates from the early twentieth century. Serial no. D 1A 16152.
E R Watts & Son Standard 10” dumpy level No. 20163 dating from ca.1939, agents J Halden & Co, Manchester & London. The level is mounted on a tribrach, in the base of which is a small circular spirit level for rough adjustment. The main (very sensitive) level is sighted through the mirror and there is also a cross level. The telescope is of the internal focusing type, the eyepiece separately focusing on the diaphragm. There is a clamp and slow motion (the clamp screw knob had sheared off and I have repaired it since the photos were taken). It has a fitted mahogany case.
A H Hall & Bros 10” precision tilting level no 53649 supplied by Hall Harding & Co, Westminster, London. The level is mounted on a tribrach above which there is an azimuth scale. It is fitted with a clamp and slow motion although the clamp screw was missing and a replacement has now been made. One turn of micrometer screw for tilting the level is equivalent to a 1/100 slope and the barrel is graduated to 1/5000. The telescope is of the internal focusing type, the eyepiece separately focusing on the diaphragm. There is a circular bubble level for setting up as well as the sensitive level that is sighted through the mirror. Using the tilting function to take two readings on the stave, the distance can be calculated.
Clinometer rule signed Herbert & Co Bombay. It has bubble levels in both arms and a magnetic compass as well as fold out sights. On the compass side there is a table of lengths in inches for a one inch rise against degrees. On the reverse is a table of rise in inches per yard against degrees, and a scale of inches x tenths. On the bottom edge is a scale of inches x eighths. The hinge arc is graduated in degrees and there is an adjacent gradient scale. The rule is made of boxwood and brass and has a leather case. Overall length folded = 6 in.
Mk IX dry card prismatic compass (Verner’s pattern) signed J W Handley Melb. Australia 1941. No. 26249. Stamped with the broad arrow flanked by DD for the Australian Defence Department, and also with 132 under another broad arrow. The card is mother of pearl, the case is brass and it has luminous radium compound markings (radio active!). The large screw locks the rotating bezel. The card is clamped when the lid is closed. There is a small button to damp card rotation for reading. The prism can be moved up and down to focus
Mk III liquid filled prismatic compass signed ‘ckc/C S4375 Mk III’ made by the Canadian Kodak Co under license from Francis Barker (1932) Ltd. World War II vintage. It has possibly been reconditioned and repainted professionally at some time. Mother of pearl compass card. Luminous radium paint markings (orange colour). In excellent working order.
The box sextant was something I had wanted for a long time and I was fortunate to find the Stanley one at a local auction. The first two telescopes were an impulse buy, cheaply, at the same auction. I was given the Durometer by a friend. The microscope slides came with my first microscope (the late 19th century drum type field one), and the polarimeter was purchased, not knowing what it was, for a tenner. More recently I became interested in surveying and surveying instruments.
Hasler SA, Berne, Switzerland workshop tachometer for measuring the speed of rotation of lathe shafts, etc. and also for checking cutting speed. Serial No 91936. Mid 20th century. Complete with case, accessories, instruction leaflet and table of cutting speeds. Sold by “SIC” (Swiss Instruments & Components Ltd., 54 Cheam Common Road, Worcester Park, Surrey).
RSA Mk IV Abney level B5098. A service pattern Abney level made for the British military. The vernier is divided to 10 minutes and it is adjusted by the thumb wheel at the top. It has a two draw eyepiece, which extends the instrument to 7 inches overall length The mirror is silver. It has degree and gradient scales.
