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Click here to subscribeAN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY 5IN. VERNIER REFLECTING CIRCLE BY LISTOR & MARTINS, BERLIN, with oxidised-brass frame, polished-brass meridian signed as per title, with inset silvered scale, lacquered-brass index arms, vernier magnifier, five shades, two mirrors and sighting tube, double rosewood handle, contained within original fitted wooden box, with accessories. Case -- 12¼ x 12¾in. (31 x 32.5cm.)
AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY 11½IN. RADIUS VERNIER OCTANT BY B. WALTER, LONDON, with maker’s plate inscribed WALTER : LONDON, the ebony frame with ivory scale divided to 95° and Ramsden’s foul-anchor dividing mark to centre, braced lacquered-brass index arm and fittings including pin-hole sight, interchangeable shades and mirrors, turned pencil head in ‘T’ bar, note plaque to reverse and pin feet, contained within stepped keystone case with trade label for J. W. Norie & Co., lock and brass escutcheon -- 15in. (38cm.) wide
AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY 11½IN. RADIUS VERNIER EBONY AND IVORY OCTANT BY SYEDS, ROTHERHITHE, with -shaped ebony frame, inset ivory scale divided to 105º, signed on the crossbar SYEDS 379 ROTHERHITHE , pin-hole/telescope sight, index mirror, seven shades, rosewood handle, contained in fitted wooden keystone case; together with letter of provenance from Port of London Authority dated 1933 -- 14 x 13in. (35.5 x 33cm.); together with a similar, but incomplete, example by Norie, London, contained within a distressed wooden stepped keystone case, (2), Agnes Syeds worked from 1834-1853 from this address, having taken over the business from her late husband in 1834.
A LATE 19TH-CENTURY 7½IN. RADIUS VERNIER OCTANT BY LARMOUR, BELFAST, with black-painted tulip frame, the polished-brass arc signed as per title, inset scale divided to 130º, silver magnifier, shades, mirrors, sighting tubes, contained within a fitted wooden box with trade label for Hayes Brothers, Cardiff -- 10¾in. (27.4cm.)
A Victorian mahogany mercury stick barometer. A. Abraham, Liverpool, circa 1840. With concave-sided upstand above glazed ivory vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and with the usual observations beneath signature A. ABRAHAM, LIVERPOOL to right hand side opposing mercury Fahrenheit and Reaumur scale thermometer to the left, the trunk with ivory vernier adjustment screw to throat and fine caddy moulded angles over circular base with domed cistern cover and level adjustment square to underside, 95cm (37.5ins) high. Abraham Abraham & Co. are recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as working from several addresses in Liverpool 1817-75. Banfield describes them as ‘important makers’ who exhibited at the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851.
A fine Scottish George III mahogany slender bowfronted mercury stick barometer. Alexander Adie, Edinburgh, early 19th century. With gadrooned dome surmount and slender silvered vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and annotated Stormy, RAIN, Change, FAIR and Very Dry beneath signature A. Adie, Edinburgh to upper margin, behind bowed glass within reeded surround above trunk with the same bowed profile and moulded border over vase shaped cistern cover with gadroon carved waist and underside applied with a foliate bud finial with level adjustment square beneath, 99cm (39ins) high. 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 current lot is an earlier example of perhaps Adie’s most attractive design of domestic barometer. The classic elegant simplicity of this model endured as subsequent versions were supplied by his sons. The instrument has survived in good original, unrestored condition however needs some attention in order to bring it back to working condition.
A good Third Reich naval plotting instrument, consisting of a circular GS scale marked from 0-180° in each direction and with central fixed arm and 2 moveable arms fitted with GS vernier scales, the central arm with maker’s code and serial number “cln 12904”, in its fitted wooden box containing extensions and fixing screws for the three arms, the lid with metal plate bearing eagle and swastika and “cln M 64 Fabr Nr 12904”. Near VGC Plate 2
A Heath & Co oxidised metal sextant, with three circle frame, two sets of three coloured glass filters, engraved silver inset scale with vernier labelled Hezzanith, endless tangent screw clamp and vernier, with accessories in fitted mahogany case with, to the underside of the lid, the label of The National Physical Laboratory Teddington, dated 1944
A Victorian rosewood mercury stick barometer, Negretti and Zambra, London, late 19th century, the arched ivory vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and with the usual observations opposing a Fahrenheit scale alcohol thermometer beneath signature NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA, LOMDON to arch, the slender trunk with exposed tube above domed cistern cover and level adjustment screw to the shield-shaped base, 91cm high
A 19th Century Ebony Octant by John Chrichton, 112 Leadenhall Street, London, with ivory vernier, scale and name tablet, brass index arm, filters and mirrors, in a mahogany case with makers green paper label and Great Exhibition 1851 label to underside of lid, together with a Boxwood Quadrant
A 19th century mahogany cased brass sextant by Troughton of London c.1895, no. 1087, of 8in. radius, the pierced patinated frame with vernier for the signed silver inset brass scale, fine adjustment and magnification lens, telescope opposing two sets of filters, ebonised handle to underside, signed `Captn. J. N. Campbell R. N.` to the end of arm, in the original baize lined mahogany case with accessories and Kew Observatory test certificate dated Sept. 1895.
An early 19th Century mahogany stick barometer, the silvered dial with alcohol thermometer, vernier scale and inscribed `P. Barine, York`, the case with broken arch pediment above a glazed door and trunk with boxwood and ebony stringing terminating in a turned cistern cover, height approx 96cm.
AN ENGLISH BRASS ANEROID ALTITUDE BAROMETER the silvered dial with divided vernier scale of 0-7000 feet and inscribed COMPENSATED, 13cm diam, in brass mounted rosewood box secured by milled screws and with a matching screwdriver, 13cm, c1870 ++An attractive example in fine condition retaining practically 100% of the lacquer, the dial lightly cleaned, the oak box refurbished. Instrument untested
A FINE ENGLISH OXIDISED BRASS SURVEYOR`S ANEROID BAROMETER BY ELLIOTT BROS the silvered dial with finely divided twin scale of 0 to 6000 feet with vernier and magnifier, inscribed Surveying Aneroid Elliott Bros 101 St Martins Lane London WC 3322 Compensated , 2.5cm diam, c1870 ++A fine quality example in good condition, entirely original not repolished, the lacquering scratched and spotted, on the underside lacking one of the five small screws, two of the others possible replacements, untested
A lacquered and polished brass transit theodolite. H. Morin, Paris, circa 1900. The triform base with adjustable feet beneath rotating trunnion table with twin decimal vernier scales, the upper surface mounted with an armature with yoke to support the reversible telescope with rack and pinion focusing and fitted with a spirit level, opposing vertical slide carrier with conforming vernier scale calibrated for angle of elevation, the top of the yoke fitted with a further spirit level and the trunnion table signed H. MORIN, H.RUE DULONG PARIS, F., No 73, 34.5cm high; with a wooden carrying case.
A Victorian oak mercury stick barometer. Chadburn and Son, Liverpool, circa 1870. The bevel-glazed canted bone vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and with the usual observations opposing mercury Fahrenheit scale thermometer beneath arch signed CHADBURN & SON, 71 LORD ST. LIVERPOOL to upper margin, with vernier adjustment square to the top of the plain rectangular section trunk terminating with a moulded domed cistern cover to the rounded base, 90cm (35.5ins) high. The firm of Chadburn and Son are recorded in Banfield Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as working from 71 Lord Street, Liverpool 1857-75.
A brass Fortin pattern mercury laboratory stick barometer. Negretti and Zambra, London, late 19th century. The instrument with suspension ring above cylindrical glazed silvered vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and signed NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA, Scientific Instrument Makers, LONDON to left hand border and numbered 2918 above lower collar, the slender cylindrical shaft with vernier adjustment screw and applied mercury Fahrenheit scale thermometer, the base with part-glazed cylindrical cistern and adjustment screw to base, mounted via a brass upper hook and a bottom collar with three locating screws onto a rectangular moulded oak panel for wall mounting, the instrument 102cm high, 117cm (46ins) high overall. The firm of Negretti and Zambra are recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as being established in 1850 when a partnership between Enrico Negretti and Joseph Zambra was formed. The firm became one of the most prolific makers of scientific instruments and continued trading well into the 20th century.
A fine and rare George III mahogany free-standing mercury pillar barometer. Nairne and Blunt, London, late 18th century, The arched silvered scale fitted to a rotating brass table to allow rotation around the large bore mercury tube, with rack and pinion adjusted vernier and pivoted mirror behind to allow accurate observation of the level beneath signature NAIRNE & BLUNT, LONDON to arch, the fluted column upright with flared capital and moulded base with lift-off front section secured by a clasp formed as a dummy keyhole to reveal interior with mercury tube of smaller diameter packed by cotton wadding, the two stage plinth incorporating up-sliding cover for the sealed boxwood cistern above moulding to waist and double skirt to base, 167cm (67.75ins) high overall. The collaboration between Edward Nairne and his former apprentice Thomas Blunt is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as established in 1774 and lasting until 1793. Edward Nairne was born in 1726 and apprenticed to the celebrated instrument maker, Matthew Loft, in 1741. Latterly he worked from 20 Cornhill and published numerous booklets on navigational, pneumatic and astronomical instruments. In 1776 Nairne devised a marine barometer with a restriction to the bore of the mercury tube which served to dampen the oscillation of the mercury, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1776 and died 1806. Thomas Blunt was apprenticed to Edward Nairne in 1760 with whom he formed a loose partnership in 1774, perhaps for mutual convenience as his premises were next door to Nairne`s at 22 Cornhill. Blunt designed some of the components for the `New Barometer` devised by the Portuguese Scientist J.H. Magellan for measuring altitude, and latterly became instrument maker to George III. In 1793 he took his son, also named Thomas, into partnership and subsequently relocated to 136 Minories in 1814, he died in 1822. The current lot is highly unusual as it takes the form of a free-standing pedestal designed to be fixed to the floor with a scale that can be rotated for viewing from any angle, the mirror attached to the rear of the scale enables the level to be sighted precisely. The non-portable and accurate nature of the instrument coupled with a finely executed case suggests that it was probably commissioned for a wealthy patron perhaps for use in a private laboratory.
A fine George III mahogany stick barometer. Dollond, London, circa 1800. With broken triangular pediment above recessed silvered vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches, with the usual observations and signed Dollond, London near the upper margin behind hinged glazed brass door, the waisted caddy moulded trunk inset with a large Fahrenheit scale mercury thermometer behind a conforming brass framed door, the rounded base with moulded circular cistern cover and vernier adjustment screw to base, 102cm (40ins) high. Peter Dollond is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1680-1860 as born 1730 and died 1820. He was the son of John Dollond, a Huguenot silk weaver and started business as an optician in 1750. He was joined by his father in 1752 until his death in 1761, and then by his brother, John, until his death in 1804. The family business was continued by Peter Dollond`s nephew, George Huggins, who changed his name to Dollond. George Dollond became instrument maker to William IV and Queen Victoria, exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and died 1856.
A Victorian oak cased Admiral Fitzroy Royal Polytechnic barometer, the silvered circular dial with vernier scale and inscribed `Joseph Davis & Co, Sole Manufacturers Fitzroy Works, Kennington Park Rd, London`, above `Special Remarks` panel and two mercury thermometers, the case with carved arch surmount above a glazed rectangular panel, height approx 104cm.
A brass and black japanned eidograph, Stanley, London, early 20th century, the 30 inch beam calibrated 85-0 with vernier scale, locking screw and signed Stanley, London to the central pivot, with pulleys connected by tension cables to each end engaging via similar vernier sockets to their respective similarly calibrated adjustable arms fitted with attachments for transposing lines onto paper, in original fitted mahogany box (lacking some accessories), 95.5cm long; and a similar eidograph, (2).
A black japanned theodolite by E. R. Watts & Son Ltd., London, number 19604 mid 20th century, the yoke-shaped cradle fitted with pivoted sighting tube with vernier scale for elevation calibrated in degrees above similarily calibrated rotating table fitted with spirit level, on triform foot with ajuatable feet, in original mahogany box with accessories including a brass bob blumbline and instruction booklet, 33cm wide.
An English sextant, unsigned, mid 20th century, the pierced black crackle finish frame applied with pivoted radius arm and fitted with sighting telescope, reflecting mirrors and filters, the outer edge with a vernier scale calibrated in degrees, in original mahogany box with some accessories, 26cm wide.
A mid 19th Century Mahogany cased Sympiesometer E & E Emanuel, Hard, Portsea, the glazed rectangular case with shaped and moulded pediment, with side mounted and sliding Vernier scale, to a signed and silvered plate with central tube and reservoir, with slide enclosure and scale of 30 to 110, and Vernier scale of 28 to 31, to a single scale Mercury Thermometer over a rotating indicator disc, height 25”
A first half of the 19th Century Flame Mahogany Stick Barometer, Watkins & Hill – 5 Charring Cross, London, the case with moulded and overhanging cornice, to a glazed panel, to a plain body and rounded base with convex and ring turned cistern cover, to a signed two-part silvered dial, with blued steel screws, and fitted with a twin scale Mercury Thermometer, to a visible tube and scale of 27 to 31, with screw adjusting Vernier Scale, height 37 ½”
A 19th Century Mahogany cased Stick Barometer, Jas Long – Royal Exchange, London, the domed case with figured Mahogany and strung body with rounded base, and half round cistern cover, to a full length visible tube, signed Brass dial with scale of 27 to 31, and sliding Vernier scale, height 38”
An early 19th century mahogany stick barometer, with a silvered dial inscribed G. Manticha & Co, Glasgow, with replaced thermometer and vernier scale, enclosed by a hinged glazed door, the body with a moulded edge and a turned cistern cover with barbers pole stringing, 38.75in (98.5cm) h. Pediment replaced.
A lacquered and patinated brass sextant by Heath & Co. New Eltham, London, circa 1926, the pierced frame with pivoted arm mounted with mirror and aperture with vernier for the signed silver inset scale, with applied `Hezzanith` plate, complete with fine adjustment and magnification lens, the frame further mounted with telescope opposing two sets of filters, with boxwood handle to underside, in a mahogany case with accessories and Hezzanith Observatory test certificate dated 1926 to lid, the lid with brass plaque signed `P. G. Renault`.
A sextant by Plath of Hamburg, early 20th century, the pierced japanned metal frame with a brass vernier arc scale, fitted with pivoted shades, horizon mirror and ocular lens, 26.5cm wide, with accessories including binoculars, in a mahogany case with a maker`s plaque and an original reference card dated 1922.
A black japanned theodolite, E.R. Watts & Son, London, early 20th century, the tube with spirit level and vertical circular double vernier scale pivoted between openwork cast uprights and rotating on a base with enclosed horizontal double vernier scale and signed `E.R. WATTS & SON, LONDON, No. 41070`, on triform base with screw adjusting feet, in original mahogany box with some accessories and outer leather guard case.
A Victorian carved oak mercury stick barometer, Baker, Dover, late 19th century, with foliate carved crest above rectangular glazed canted opaque glass vernier scale calibrated in inches with Admiral Fitzroy’s observations and inscribed BAKER OPTICIAN, MARKET PLACE, DOVER to upper margin, the moulded trunk with vernier adjustment square above large mercury Fahrenheit themometer, the square base with rosette carved cistern cover and level adjustment square to the cavetto moulded underside, 105cm high
An early 20th Century Oak Mounted “Fortin” Type Stick Barometer, Baird & Tatlock, London, the plain moulded blonde oak backboard to a black painted and lacquered brass cylindrical tube with silvered twin scale of 69-83 and 27-32, with side screw adjusting vernier scale and enclosing a heavy glass tube to a plain body set with a twin scale thermometer and screw adjusting reservoir to the base, height 44”
A BLACK LACQUERED BRASS FORTIN TYPE LABORATORY STICK BAROMETER with suspension loop over cylindrical glazed silvered vernier scale above a vernier adjustment screw, mercury thermometer and canister shaped cistern engraved J. Hicks, 8, 9, & 10 Hatton Garden, London, No.1090, mounted on original mahogany back panel, 43 1/2" high overall.
A Fine George III mahogany mercury cistern tube stick barometer James Long, London, circa 1800 With ivory vase finial to the broken triangular pediment with concave bracket supports to sides, above rectangular silvered vernier scale calibrated in inches, with the usual observations and signed Ja`s Long, Royal Exchange, LONDON to upper margin, behind ebony line bordered glazed door above trunk with vernier setting square and inset with a large mercury Fahrenheit scale thermometer behind conforming glazed door, the rounded base with decorative turned ivory disc centred domed cistern cover and level adjustment screw to underside, 98cm high overall. James Long is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as working in Royal Exchange, London 1769-1811.
A fine Regency mahogany bowfronted cistern tube mercury stick barometer Dollond, London, early 19th century With swan-neck pediment and cavetto cornice above silvered vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and with the usual observations beneath signature Dollond, LONDON to upper margin, the bowed trunk with vernier adjustment key to throat and ebony line inlaid edges, the shaped base with ebonised half vase turned cistern cover flanked by canted angles decorated with ebony line infill, the cavetto moulded underside with level adjustment square, 100cm high excluding finial. Peter Dollond is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1680-1860 as born 1730 and died 1820. He was the son of John Dollond, a Huguenot silk weaver and started business as an optician in 1750. He was joined by his father in 1752 until his death in 1761, and then by his brother, John, until his death in 1804. The family businesss was continued by Peter Dollond’s nephew, George Huggins, who changed his surname to Dollond. George Dollond became instrument maker to William IV and Queen Victoria, exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and died 1856.
A patinated brass Kew pattern marine or station stick barometer Adie, London, mid to late 19th century With domed brass cap above glazed cylindrical silvered vernier scale calibrated in inches (26.6 to 32.5) and centimetres (66.5 to 80.5) and signed Adie, London, No. 1359 to lower edge, the cylindrical shaft with vernier adjustment screw and concealed-bulb mercury thermometer with ivory Fahrenheit scale above canister shaped cistern (tube lacking), mounted via gimbals onto original mahogany back panel, the instrument 95cm high, 106cm high overall. Patrick Adie, son of the renowned Scottish Instrument maker Alexander Adie (1775-1858) is recorded in Banfield, Edwin, BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as working from several addresses in London 1846-86. In around 1855 Patrick Adie and John Welsh of the Kew Observatory worked together to develop an improved design of marine barometer. Their design incorporated a sealed iron cistern and the tube featured dampening constriction and Bunten air trap. The thermometer bulb is enclosed within the frame to measure the temperature of the mercury within the barometer tube, the outer brass case offered increased protection compared to earlier wooden cased models.
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