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Click here to subscribeA Vincennes biscuit figure 'Le Joueur de Cornemuse', formed as a boy holding bagpipes, leaning against a tree stump, with a basket of fruit at his feet and supported on a rockwork base. Impressed compass mark c.1754, 19cm. Condition Report. To be used as a guide only. Chips to the edge of his coat and a firing crack to the reverse of the stump. No repair.
A George III brass surveyor's sighting compass dial Cole, London, circa 1770-90 The 3 inch circular silvered dial with foliate engraved eight-point compass rose annotated N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and signed Cole, Fecit within scroll cartouches flanking the fleur-de-lys North terminal, the outer margin scale annotated in tens 0-90 for each quadrant and further raised concentric scale calibrated 0-360 , the steel pointer with pin pivot set within glazed moulded bezel applied with a pair of hinged alidades incorporating opposing tension line and hairline slot viewing apertures, the outer edge with further degree scale calibrated 0-360 , the underside with socket and clamp screw for tripod mounting, 10cm (4ins) diameter; with a later base comprising post over moulded brass disc applied to circular wooden plinth, 17.5cm (7ins) diameter overall. Provenance: Private collection, Hampshire. No less than five scientific instrument makers with the surname Cole are recorded in Clifton, Gloria Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 as working in London during the latter half of the 18th century. However Benjamin Cole (II), who is recorded as working from The Orrery (next the Globe Tavern) 1768-82 then 136 Fleet Street until 1785, is perhaps the most likely candidate as he is known to have produced surveying instruments including sighting compasses with folding alidades.
A fine Scottish patinated brass garden sundial plate with equation of time Adie and Son for retail by W.D. Young and Company, Edinburgh, circa 1835 The 19 inch circular plate centred with an eight-point compass rose with stylised leafy scroll and hatched decoration to segments within track engraved WATCH SLOWER and WATCH FASTER twice and full annual calendar annotated with solar time variance (equation of time) within herringbone border and compass band engraved N. NE, E, SE, S SW, W and NW , the chapter ring incorporating five-minute inner border and Roman numerals IIII-XII-VIII with tied lozenge half hour markers, the outer track divided into sixtieths denoting one minute intervals, the chapter ring terminating with simulated scrolls after the IIII and VIII numerals with engraved signature Adie & Son, EDINBURGH over SOLD BY W.D. YOUNG & Co. 54 HANOVER STR T, EDIN B to space between (gnomon lacking). Alexander Adie is recorded in Goodison, Nicholas English Barometers 1680-1860 as born 1774 and apprenticed to his uncle the eminent Scottish instrument maker John Miller in 1789. In 1804 his uncle took him into partnership under the name of Miller and Adie, the business continued until after Miller's death in 1815. Adie was particularly interested in meteorological instruments and is perhaps best known as the inventor of the Sympiesometer in 1818. In recognition of his work he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1819. He was appointed optician to William IV and later Queen Victoria and took one of his Sons, John, into partnership in 1835. Two of his other sons set up businesses; Robert in Liverpool and Patrick in London. Unfortunately John Adie was prone to 'Fits of Despondency' which resulted in him shooting himself in 1857, Alexander Adie died the following year -no doubt expediated by the stress of his son's demise. The firm W.D. Young and Company do not appear to be recorded in the usual sources suggesting that they may have been general retailers.
A very rare mahogany cased aneroid barocyclonometer or 'Typhoon Barometer' Retailed by Lawrence and Mayo, Calcutta, after a design by Jose Algue, Manilla, early to mid 20th century The box opening to reveal Faura pattern aneroid barometer with 7 inch circular silvered register calibrated in both barometric inches and millibars and inscribed LAWRENCE & MAY, CALCUTTA, 596 over curved Fahrenheit and Centigrade scale mercury thermometer to centre, within adjustable outer scale annotated for the Northern hemisphere with latitudes 0-25 opposing 25-32 grouped with appropriate pressure readings for different seasons to the lower half, the upper half annotated with typhoon predictions, the whole set behind glazed bezel with silvered angled fillet insert and attached to the outer scale to allow adjustment by turning the bezel assembly , the lid of the box applied to the inside with the remains of a patinated brass and glass Cyclometer with fragmented original central translucent circular plate inscribed with direction arrows beneath two pointers, one engraved with scale 0-100 the other with pivoted direction indicator, the whole rotating within a ring annotated with the points of the compass, the exterior of the box with shaped brass nameplate engraved M.C.P. to top and visible dovetail joints to corners, (in original unrestored condition with distressed Cyclometer), 27cm (10.5ins approx.) wide. Very little is known about the origins of the firm Lawrence and Mayo other than the fact that they were originally London based and expanded to set-up branches throughout the British Empire during the second half of the 19th century. The Calcutta branch is thought to have opened in 1877 and is still trading today as an independent Indian enterprise specialising in the supply optical scientific and surveying instruments. The design of the current lot was the culmination of the efforts of two successive Jesuit Priest directors of the Manilla Observatory, Federico Faura and Jose Algue. The problem of predicting destructive typhoons, which took dozens of lives each year in the Phillipines, led to Faura's research and eventual publication of his paper Senales precursoras de un temporal in 1882. He then went onto develop the úura' pattern barometer which through use of a carefully devised scale could predict with a fair degree of accuracy the proximity of a typhoon. Jose Algue, who succeeded Faura in 1897, undertook further research to devise a method of forecasting the direction from which a typhoon would approach. This led to the development of his 'cyclonometer' or 'wind disc'. The incorporation of both instruments into one unit was termed a ºroclclonometer', examples of which were utilised throughout the Phillipines saving countless lives during the opening years of the 20th century. In 1912 Jose Algue was invited by the U.S. government to devise a version of his tried and tested barocylonometer for use in the Northern hemisphere in order to assist in the prediction of Hurricanes and Atlantic storms. In August 1912 he visited New York and Washington where it was agreed that a model calibrated for the Northern hemisphere would be made in Germany for trial onboard Connecticut flagship of Rear Admiral Osterhaus -commander of the Atlantic Squadron for U.S. Navy. By January 1913 Algue was in London where discussions regarding the production of further models in London took place. An account of his visit to New York was published in The New York Times August 18th 1912, and a review of the instrument was published in Popular Mechanics January 1913 issue. A related instrument by Schmidt and Zeigler of Remscheid (probably from the very early series of German made models as specified for the order for the U.S. Navy) was sold in these rooms on Wednesday 16th February 2011 (lot 26) for £1,300 hammer.
An interesting collection of First World War and Royal Flying Corps ephemera belonging to G S Farmer, including a gun sight, flight goggles, compass, pocket watch, aerial navigation notes, trench maps of the Western Front, various training manuals including Royal Flying Corps, Practical Flying, a Complete Course of Flying Instructions published by Temple Press, two copies of 'Flight' magazine, Royal Sussex Regimental History, and local interest, The Corn Exchange 1916, programme of Tableaux Vivants, later World War Two training manuals and information pamphlets, etc
Medals, WW1, Local Interest, group of three, 1914 - 15 Star, 1914 - 1918 War and Victory Medals, named to 21280 Pte. F. Parkes, Notts: & Derby: R, lacking ribbons; marching compass; EIIR, Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, named to Leading Fireman Ernest F. Sheldon, boxed with a letter of citation and additional ribbon en suite
Militaria - Medal, German Empire, Wilhelm II, Iron Cross 1914 (lacking black enamel, worn); another, GB, WW1, miniature, 1914 - 1918 War medallion; 'Trench' whistle, by J. Hudson & Co., Birmingham, dated 1915, War Ministry arrow markings; a War Ministry issue magnetic marching compass, by T.G. Co. Ltd., Ministry arrow mark, [4]
A mixed collection of late 19th/early 20th Century collectable items To include a circular brass and silver coloured metal sextant, within hardwood box, a brass cased pocket compass, signed Ross London, together with outer leather carry case, and salter trade spring balance weighing scale, a 19th century engraved brass folding rule. (4)
Draughtsman drawing tools to include a cased set of six vintage wooden rulers in Robson of Newcastle on Tyne box, two slide rules (one boxed) a cased technical compass etc together with a small silver topped cut glass dressing table jar, Birmingham, makers mark indistinct, a silver belt design bangle, bright cut foliate engraving, London 1945 makers mark RGS and Beechams Pills 5/6 Box
Cleo Laine signed 10x8 b/w photo. English jazz and pop singer and an actress, known for her scat singing and for her vocal range. Though her natural range is that of a contralto, she is able to produce a G above high C, giving her an overall compass of well over three octaves. Good condition. All signed items come with our certificate of authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.95, EU from £4.95, Overseas from £6.95
*Embroidered map. A Map of the World, according to the Latest Discoveries, 1800, double-hemisphere world map, finely worked on cream silk, toned, perished in places (mostly towards edges), each hemisphere in blackwork, with land masses outlined in coloured silks, general title embroidered in black within decorative circular frame, and hemispheres with titles 'Western Hemisphere or The New World' and 'Eastern Hemisphere or The Old World', compass rose embroidered in coloured threads, painted and blackwork vignette at each corner representing the four continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, 38 x 71cm (15 x 28ins), verre eglomise mount, gilt frame (1)
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