Nautical instruments
This part of the collection includes mainly navigational instruments from the early sailing period, the time when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel.
Reflecting or Borda circle – Schwartz, Lenoir, Paris, ca. 1840
Circle sextant, Borda circle, reflecting circle, circumferator, repeating circle, this instrument is known among several names. In Paris Chevalier de Borda published a description of his instrument in 1787. The instrument can measure angles greater than 180 degrees. At sea, it is used in determining lunar distances.
Whaling or Coastal Compass in binnacle of limewood – Ripamonti, Bordeaux, France, ca. 1820
Romantic and well preserved early 19th century, dry card whaling compass with a hand-made 32-point rose without graduation. On the rose the name of the maker, North with star, eagle and crown, East – direction of Jerusalem – with simple decoration.
Rare taffrail log in case – Vion, Paris ca. 1950
A ship-log records the distance travelled through the water. With the time in hours between the observations, it gives the ship’s speed in knots. A very rare and complete yachting taffrail log. Hardly used. With clock, line, rotator, sinker weight and two shoes in a mahogany case. The log is fixed on a shoe […]
Naval Course Corrrector – USMC, WWII era
Course Corrector of the United States Maritime Commission fixed in original wood box. The divice is a ten inch disk of three rings and has an indicator arm with two thumb screws. The device is used to assist calculating true, magnetic or compass course base upon variation and deviation. Catalogue: NM.6-35 Date: 1940 – […]
Rare Star Finder, Celestial Globe – Cary, London ca. 1896
Making position by observation of stars is done at twilight. With partly cloudy skies it can be difficult to find the right stars. This star globe helps with it. In the lid of the box there is a paper label with instructions for use. Inventor of this outil is Vincent John English. The wooden […]
28 Second Hour Glass for Hand Log – ca. 1850
The hand log was first described in 1574 (Sharp, p 5). It consists of a wooden chip with peg, the log line, a reel and a 28 (long) or 14 second (short) sandglass. The chip in the shape of a circle sector and weighted with lead, is fitted with two lines to the peg, the […]
Tell-tale Compass – 19th century
Well preserved dry card and gimbaled brass tell-tale compass. The rose is made up of several layers of paper with 32 points. North with beautiful fleur de lis. On the rose, the letters E and W are painted over the old letters. Originally the rose will not be English. The inside of the binnacle is […]
Dry card whaling compass – early 1800
Dry card compass in a linden bowl with lid. With a brass top the rose can move freely on a peg. The inside of the binnacle is painted dirty white with lubber line. Catalogue: NM.5-30 Date: 1800 – 1830 HW bowl: 10 x 13 cm D rose: 10 cm Signed: not signed Origin: England […]
Deep Lead with line for shallow waters – 19th century
Widely used deeplead of 10 lbs with a leadline on a reel to find waterdepth and type of soil. The length of the line is 25 fathoms. The first five fathoms are marked with blue tarlaulin flag around the fathom. Thereafter every two and a half fathom is indicated with a yellow flag. The bottom […]
Hand log with reel, chip and peg – ca. 1850
The hand log was first described in 1574 (Sharp, p 5). It consists of a wooden chip with peg, the log line, a reel and a 28 or 14 second sandglass. The chip in the shape of a circle sector and weighted with lead, is fitted with two lines to the peg, the end of […]
International Flags, Pendants and Substitutes
Signal flags according to the International Radiotelegraph Conference in Washington in 1930. During WWII, the international signal book from 1897 was found not to work properly between ships of different nationalities. It was therefore decided to thoroughly revise this book.
Governor wheel – Fly wheel – Regulator – W. Waring (?), circa 1878
The spoked fly wheel is introduced in 1878 by W. Waring. Subsequently applied in large quantities by Walkers and others. This early hand-made brass item is possible made by Waring. Catalogue: NM.6-18 Date: ca. 1878 D: 22.5 cm Signed: not signed Origin: poss. England Condition: perfect with small signs of use
Ship’s log Cherub Mark III – Walkers, Birmingham, 1940
A finely made ship’s log to measure the distance covered through the water within a certain time. Distance divided bij the time in hours, gives the speed in knots through the water. A nice and complete Mark III in case with two spare windows, two rotators, hook and gimbal foot. Three dials on ennamel […]
Ship’s log Cassens & Plath, unused – Bremerhaven, Germany, 1950
A finely made and unused ship’s log to measure the distance covered through the water within a certain time. Distance divided bij the time in hours, gives the speed in knots through the water. Nice and complete log with rotator, two gimbal feet and line in case. Two dials on ennamel face, the larger […]
Ship’s log Cherub Mark III – Walkers, Birmingham, 1940
A finely made ship’s log to measure the distance covered through the water within a certain time. Distance divided bij the time in hours, gives the speed in knots through the water. Mark III in case with two spare windows, two rotators, hook and gimbal foot. Three dials on ennamel face, the larger registers […]
Dry card compass – Ribbens, Terneuzen, Netherlands, ca 1900
Gimbaled dry card compass in a copper bowl. The compass is gimbaled mounted in a wooden case of oak with sliding cover. The inside of the bowl is painted white without lubber’s line. The rose contains 32 points and the name of the maker. The north on the rose is decorated with a fleur de […]
Deck Taffrail Log, new patent – Edw. Massey, London, around 1890
Massey taffrail log number 1842 with universal action bracket and tube shaped register. The dial registers up to 100 miles on a porcelain face. The instrument could be boomed out amidship from the bridge or secured to the taffrail. The production was ceased in 1903. The universal action bracket, called a Looped Stand Arm and […]
Barocyclonometer or Typhoon Barometer Hughes, London – England ca. 1920
Early 20th century barocyclonometer or typhoon barometer. On board it is used as a means to determine the the position of the centre of a cyclone at a distance of several hundred miles and permits the calculation of the direction in which the riot of wind is moving.
Shagreen cased chart work instruments – early 19th century
A fine and complete two hundred year old shagreen cased set of chart work instruments. All twelve parts are original and present, including two ivory sectors and ebony rule. Also made of brass, two dividers with complete and matching attachments for ink, pencil lines and dotting wheel,
Artificial black glass horizon – circa 1800
The artificial horizon was designed for use when the natural horizon is not visible due to weather conditions or darkness. It is used in conjunction with a sextant. The angle of reflection of a celestial body on the mirror is equal to the angle of incidence. The history of the artificial horizon dates back to […]
Lodestone – 17th century
Lodestone mounted in a brass frame with carrying ring on top. With two pieces of steel at the bottom to increase the magnetic strength of the lodestone. French lilies on all sides. Catalogue: NM.6-06 Date: 1600-1650 HWL: 68x71x53 mm, overall height with ring 130 mm Signed: not signed Origin: probably French Condition: in excellent and […]
Hand log with reel, chip and hourglass – 1880/1900
The hand log was first described in 1574 (Sharp, p 5). It consist of a wooden chip with peg, the log line, a reel and a 28 or 14 second sandglass. The chip in the shape of a circle sector and weighted with lead on the arc, is fitted with two lines to the peg, the end of the log line forms the third.
Large and important Graphometer – Lenoir, Paris, ca. 1780
The main directions on the compass are fully marked with Nord, Sud, West en Ouest. The two scales are engraved by hand. The instrument is made by Etienne Lenoir (1744 – 1832). In his time Lenoir was considered as the best designer of nautical and observation instruments.
Harpoon log A1 in original case – T.Walker, Birmingham, 19th century
From the 17th century onwards people had made many attempts to devise a mechanical log which would automatically record the ships distance done. Edward Massey invented a mechanical log in 1802 with four blades which was used by the Admiralty from 1807-1815.
Large Brass Watkins Clinometer – Watts & Son, London, 1941
A very fine brass clinometer in original mahogany case. Clinometers have a variety of uses. With this type of clinometer the angle of inclination of a ship can be measured very accurately. For this purpose in still water, along the quay, a heavy weight is moved abeam with the loading equipment. The values found are […]
19th Century Harpoon towing log A2 – T.Walker, London, Birmingham
This A2 log without stabilizer came after the A1. Rotary slide twists to reveal three dials on porcelain face. The first registers the miles up to 100, the second registers the units up to 10 mile, the third registers quarters of a mile. The four rotor blades are stamped with anchor motif and initials T.W.
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