Antique telescopes, sundials, and scientific instruments

Early 19th century mahogany "waywiser," a surveyor's measuring device.

Surveyors today use a waywiser (also known as an odometer or a perambulator) to measure linear distances on the ground. This elegant English example in mahogany dates from the early 19th century, and the dial measures in yards (the longer of the two hands), poles (an antiquated term interchangeable with rods, 16.5 feet, 320 poles per mile), furlongs (220 yards), and miles. The iron-rimmed wheel is 31.5 inches in diameter, covering 99 inches with each revolution, or one pole in each two turns, and can be removed for transporting the instrument. The engraved, silvered dial and steel hands are connected to a clock-like movement, which in turn is driven by an iron shaft running up the inside of one of the wheel supports. The instrument is in good working order, and the display stand is later.

The dial is signed by Robert Bate (1782-1847) of London, MIM and OIM, a prolific maker of instruments in the first half of the 19th century. His workshops produced globes, sundials, drafting tools, barometers, and a wide range of instruments for the Board of Excise and Customs and the Admiralty. He took two of his sons into business with him, renaming the firm Bate and Son sometime before 1840.

Circa 1820-1825
56 1/4 Inches long
$9,500.00
No. 1659

Pair of Black Forest Weather Instruments

click on photo for larger image

These are very probably Swiss in origin, with the branded mark of a Paris seller on the back of each case. The aneroid barometer’s weather indications are in French marked with centimeters rather than inches, and both thermometers -- one red spirit and one mercury-- are graduated in centigrade with French temperature indications. The cases are carved from linden wood, also known as bass wood or sometimes lime wood. The decorative theme is oak leaves with acorns, and lion crests. Everything is in working order.

Early 20th Century
Each 27.25" high x 19.5"wide
SOLD
No. 1650

19th Century English brass desk-top telescope, with original fitted box

Desk-top telescope This is a very nicely made telescope of compact proportions, complete and in excellent condition. Barrel diameter is 2.25 inches at the objective lens, and the barrel length is 31.5 inches without the barlow lens, 41 inches with. Three eyepieces are included, each with a different width of field, and also a smoked glass cover for viewing an eclipse. The mount is a swiveling tapered support on a tripod base with cabriole legs, and an adjustable supporting strut. The lacquer finish has been restored, and the original fitted mahogany box - 32" long - is included. There is no maker's name shown.

Circa 1850-1870
$2,900.00
No. 1588

Good quality small desk-top telescope
by Thomas Harris & Son, London

This is a very pretty 19th century brass telescope, all complete, original, and in working order.The original fitted mahogany storage box is only 21" long. Thomas Harris telescope The telescope includes a Barlow extension for terrestrial viewing, and two eyepieces of differing field widths. Barrel diameter is 2.25 inches at the objective lens, and the overall length with the Barlow extension fitted is 26 inches. Height is 15 inches.

Thomas Harris, Optical Instrument Maker, worked from about 1780 to the early 19th century, and in 1806 the firm was renamed Thomas Harris & Son. They were Opticians to the Royal Family for much of the 19th century. Harris & Son also made very fine barometers and other scientific instruments. Telescopes are difficult to date in a narrow range, but the style of engraving in the signature indicates that this one probably was made around 1840 to the mid-century.

Circa 1840-1850
$3500.00
No. 1598

High quality 19th century five-draw spyglass by Adie & Son, Edinburgh

This unusually well-made spyglass is in fine original condition and full working order. The brass frame is veneered in dark rosewood, and the tube is signed by the instrument making firm of Adie and Son, Edinburgh, Scotland.

When its five sections are fully extended, it is 39.5” (1000mm) long, and with its 1” (25.4mm) eyepiece, has a maximum magnification of about 40x.

Alexander Adie started business in Edinburgh shortly after 1800 and was joined by his second son, John, in about 1835. The firm was renamed Adie and Son about this time, and continued on in business until approximately 1880. This spyglass was probably made about mid-way in that period.

Circa 1850
10” long closed, 39 ½” open,
2" diameter objective lens

Early 19th Century English 12 inch diameter
bronze sundial signed John Oclee

This is one of the most beautifully engraved sundials we have offered in recent years. The center carries a fine compass star around the original 50 degree gnomon (south central England), surrounded by eight full bands of information.

From the innermost ring:
1. The eight principal points of the compass
2. The 12 months of the year, the first band of the equation of time tables
3. Days of the month band, with a mark for every day, numbered every ten days and the last day of each month
4. Minutes of correction band, for equating sidereal time with solar time
5. Watch Faster/Watch Slower band, with the summer and winter solstices marked at June 15 and December 24
6. Band reserved for the maker's signature
7. Roman numeral hours-of-the-day band, with an inner sub-band for the quarter hours (with a panel for the engraved dedication)
8. Minutes band, with every minute marked and Arabic numerals every 20 minutes.

The maker's signature is John Oclee, Watch-Maker, Ramsgate (Kent). Loomes lists John Oclee as practicing in Ramsgate from at least 1823 to 1827. Pigot's Trade Directory for Kent, 1824, lists James Oclee in Queen Street, Ramsgate. James was a member of the Clockmakers' Company from 1790 and is surely related. The firm was absorbed by Hinds Jewelers, Folkstone, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century.

The sundial was a gift given in the names of the Church Wardens Mr. Geo. Hope, Esq., and Mr. T. Ramonell to their church (unnamed). The dial likely stood in a Kent churchyard for most of its useful life.

Circa 1825
12 Inches diameter
$3600.00
No. 1639

Mid-19th century slate sundial with five gnomons by
Richard Melville (aka Melvin), Crystal Palace, London

This is a most interesting sundial, utilizing a central gnomon of 50 degrees 51 minutes north for London, and four corresponding smaller gnomons for a "World Time" display in the corners. The corner dials are engraved with New York, Morning (five hours earlier), Alexandria, Egypt,
Afternoon (two hours later), Island of Borneo, Evening (seven hours later), and New Zealand, Night (12 hours later). Additionally the plate is profusely engraved with information. The seven circular areas, from the center, are:

1. A 16 point compass star
2. The Roman numeral hour band, also showing the maker's name and address (see below)
3. Half hours
4. Quarter hours
5. Minutes
6. A band naming 69 cities around the world, with a panel describing how to calculate current time in each
7. Equation of time tables for all 12 months of the year, with additional panels to read the dial faster or slower against a watch in each month.

The central gnomon has an old repair, and one of the auxiliary gnomons is a replacement. The slate panel is undamaged, and minimally eroded. It is nearly all legible with a dusting of chalk. We don't recommend an outdoor installation as the slate has its original surface and is not sealed against acid rain or freezing.

At the top (North) of the dial is a Latin inscription that is too worn to read clearly, probably having to do with time and death.

The dial is signed Richard Melvin, maker to the Crystal Palace London. He signed and was known by a number of versions of his name. Ricardus Melville and Richard Melvin are recorded for example. There are others but the unique design suggests a single maker. Richard Melville began his career in Ulster from 1832 to 1842. By 1845 he was working in Glasgow and continued there until 1851. In 1846 he was based at 160 Saltmarket Street. Two dials made in Glasgow, both dated 1848, are, respectively in the Dunblane Museum and the Dollar Museum. A number of sundials are held by museums, notably the National Museum of Scotland and Armagh Museum, Ireland. In 1856 he was in Liverpool, in 1858 in the Crystal Palace area, London and by 1864 he was working in Dublin. His address there in 1871 was 9 Lower Wellington Street. He is not known as making any other instruments. We are grateful to the British Sundial Society for the biographical information.

Circa 1858-1864
15.25 " square
$6,500.00
No. 1656

Large 19th Century English boxed scale
with the original set of weights

This is a scale in a very nice original condition, still retaining its original set of cup weights. The steel arm, stand, and pans dismantle for carrying in the drawer of the mahogany box, scales and there is a compartment in the drawer for the weights. Such scales were made for commercial use, in everything from selling spices to pigments for paint. The nine brass weights are in Troy ounces, from 30 down to 1/5th.

No maker's name is shown. It is likely to have been made by Avery of Birmingham or a similar firm in the 19th century.

scales-weights

18.25" wide, 9.25" deep, 4.25" high (box),
24.5" high overall
Second half, 19th century
$1600.00
No. 1638

English barograph in an oak case.

Good late 19th-early 20th century English barograph (recording aneroid barometer) in a glazed oak case with a chart drawer.

The mechanism uses a French clock movement with eight day duration.

In addition to the recorded barometric pressure chart, there is a silvered dial for immediate readings.

No maker's name is shown, but it was very likely manufactured by Short & Mason or Negretti & Zambra for another seller.

The brass mechanism has been cleaned and the lacquer renewed, and the oak case has been cleaned and waxed. barograph All the beveled glass panels are original. The ink bottle is a replacement. It is supplied with an ample number of paper charts and recording ink.

The instrument is in fine condition and full working order.

Circa 1890-1920
14.5" wide, 9" deep, 8.75" high
$2,000.00
No. 1661

Nineteenth century brass binoculars, with crocodile skin wrap

A pretty set of binoculars for the bird watcher or racing enthusiast. Probably French or Italian in origin, judging by the style and lens mounts, and all in fine original condition and full working order.

Last half 19th Century
4 5/8" long closed, 6 1/8"long open
SOLD
No. 1662