A magazine case of typical English hand made instruments of the traditional pattern. The case is oak, electrum bound, and measures 14.5 x 8.5 x 4.75 in. It has a lift out tray in the top, which houses the compasses, etc and a drawer, which springs out when released by the button on the left side. The case is incomplete and the ivory protractor and parallel rule, although typical, have been added.
The drawer of the magazine case which is fitted for watercolours (six remain, all by Winsor & Newton). The palette is by Reeves and there is a space under it for brushes. The set dates from circa 1900 and the cartouche on the lid is engraved H J Stanley, presumably the original owner, and many of the instruments have his initials engraved on them. These cases cost £20 or more when new.
A nineteenth century set of brass instruments in a mahogany box. These are typical of many sets of this period which are unsigned. They are of the traditional pattern in its later form with sector heads to the compasses and dividers in place of the long joint heads which were commonplace at the start of the century. The long, ivory handled pen on the left is not original and is probably French. The boxwood sector is normally housed under the tray containing the metal instruments.
A traditional pattern set by Patrick Adie of London in a morocco leather case, dating from about 1900.
Eight inch cases containing a “full set” of instruments, like this one, were sold by all of the major makers. Protractors, etc could be stored behind a flap in the lid.
Another eight inch, morocco leather case, retailed by Gamages of London.
A “full set” normally comprised a 6” or 4.5” compass with extension bar and fittings, 5” or 4” dividers, two bow compasses, three spring bows and two ruling pens. Sometimes there was also a pricker.
A large “Sandhurst” case from the late nineteenth century, sold by the Army & Navy Stores, intended for use by army officers. Unlike other ranks, who were issued with uniforms and equipment, officers had to purchase their own. Hence drawing equipment used by army officers does not bear the government broad arrow as it was the officer’s personal property.
A set of spring bows, English, circa 1900.
An English set dating from the late nineteenth century, which is of a pattern with a double jointed compass with plain points, which by that time had generally been superseded.
A cheap set of 'Foreign' instruments, almost certainly French. These unmarked sets were sold by many retailers and manufacturers for use by students. The quality is considerably inferior to British made sets. It dates from circa 1900 and the main material used is brass.
They can be found in both mahogany and rosewood veneered boxes and sometimes the instruments are nickel plated or nickel silver.
This set of French instruments is similar to the set above but is of better quality. The instruments are made of nickel silver, heavier in construction, have steel leaves in the joints, and nickel silver thumb screws instead of steel. The spring bows are much finer, with ivory handles and the pen handle unscrews to reveal a pricker. The divider is of the hairspring type. There is also a brass protractor similar to the one in the set above.
A small electrum set by Schoenner of Germany, dated 1912. This pattern of instruments was popular in the USA and several US firms sold similar instruments, made in Germany, under their own brand names (e.g. Post, K&E). Similar instruments were also made in Switzerland, for instance by Kern.
A Japanese set by Yasukawa & Co, Isezaki-cho, Yokohama. It is a curious mixture of French and English styles, both of which were probably obsolescent by the time that this set was made. The instruments are nickel-silver and the pens have bone handles, which unscrew to reveal prickers. The case is covered in green rexine.
A Cary Porter Ltd “Woolwich” set dating from the 1920s. The metal instruments are electrum. The lower pen was special to these sets and has an extended ferrule to house the pricker on the end of the ivory handle, which unscrews. The set also includes two vulcanite set squares, a set of marquoise scales and triangle and three chain scales (there should be four). The box is rather battered from hard use.
Small drawing instrument set by Auguste Patte, Ingénieur, Opticien, Arcades du Grand Hotel du Louvre, 168, Rue de Rivoli, Paris.
The instruments are brass with steel leaves in the joints, of quite reasonable quality, and probably date from the late nineteenth century. An extension bar and compass key are missing and one pen has its handle broken off.
Eugene Dietzgen 1188P set of nickel silver drawing instruments. Dietzgen were based in Chicago in the USA but like many US instrument ‘makers’ the instruments they sold were actually made in Germany. The compass and divider are stamped at the head ‘DRP’ (Deutsch Reich Patent), which tells us they are German and indeed this pattern of instrument, sometimes referred to as the ‘American Pattern’, is in fact a standard German and Swiss pattern of which the Schoenner set above is another example.
Full set by J M & H Cronmire, 10 Bromehead Street, Commercial Road East, London in an eight inch rosewood veneered case. Their trade label was affixed to the underneath of the instrument tray and the ivory protractor, above, is also signed. They were at this address from 1865-69.
When I obtained this set the instruments were not located in the correct pockets and it has been a puzzle to work out their correct locations. I had not realised that in sets from the middle of the nineteenth century the spring bows did not necessarily have separate pockets but were sometimes arranged in a line in one large pocket as I have now arranged them. I posed the question of how they should be arranged to members of the Yahoo drawing instruments group (link on Links & Contacts page). Robert Pilla posted a picture of his Archbutt set of about the same date showing that the spring bows were arranged in this way.
The instrument in the uppermost pocket is a road pen. It will be noted that there is one instrument missing. This would have been a six inch plain divider.
I have shown the spring bows separately as they rather unusually have ivory handles.
Tubular brass set by James Parkes of Birmingham, dating from ca.1900. These cheap but robust sets were intended for use by students and were the subject of James Parkes’s patents. A slightly larger set is illustrated on the ‘Who Made Them’ page,. That set was a Department of Science & Art Reward set. Another example of a Reward set is shown below. The box is mahogany, lined with blue velvet.
Department of Science and Art Reward set by T Grew of Plaistow, Essex. Typically for these sets, a couple of pieces are missing, probably a second pen and a pencil bow compass. They were typical student sets made of brass with long joint heads to the compass and dividers and no knee joint in the fixed leg of the compass. The block nib pen does not open for cleaning.
The Department of Science and Art Reward stamp in the centre of the mahogany box lid.
This nickel silver set appears to be of French manufacture and was said to date from the 1940s. The black leathercloth covered case is lined with blue silk and velvet and has a flap in the lid behind which is the typically French paper pocket for a protractor (missing). The proportional divider is only divided for lines.
French nickel silver and ivory set dating from ca. 1900. The instruments include a six inch compass and fittings, dividers, Swiss pattern beam compass fittings, three spring bows, two ruling pens, one with opening nib and pricker on the end of the handle which unscrews, and a dotted line pen with three wheels. A small compass and its fittings are missing. In the base of the box is a small wood triangle with angles of 75, 60 and 45 degrees. The mahogany carcased box is finely veneered with rosewood and a contrasting wood and has brass banding. It is lined with blue silk and purple velvet.
Jackson Bros, Leeds & Armley set of brass instruments. The pen has a bone handle and is of the type patented by J Parkes & Co. The compass and dividers also seem to be based on a Parkes patent design. They would have been intended for student use. The form of extension bar for the compass is unusual.
English pattern set, unsigned except for the larger pen, which is marked Dixon Hempenstall. It probably dates from the early 20th century and appears to be complete with all its original items. Besides the English full set it contains a drop bow compass and a pricker of a pattern usually associated with Germany both of which are original to the set. The case is leather covered and lined with blue watered silk and blue velvet. The set also includes a knife key, a lead container with a screw top, a needle container and a lead pusher. The handle of the latter matches those of the spring bows.
I have been unable to find any details of Dixon Hempenstall.
I have been unable to find any details of Dixon Hempenstall.
Traditional sets as I have defined them are those designs that developed in the mid nineteenth century and continued to be made for the next 100 years or more until gradually superseded by later patterns. They were generally hand made or at least hand finished, quite heavy, and mostly designed to last a lifetime or more.