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.
Very solid made brass ships clock of about 3 kilo! On the enamel dial 1-12 and an inner ring indicating 13-24 in Arabic numerals. Observator made ship clocks of a high standard.
Catalog: MA.1-12
Date: 1920-1930
HD: 6,5×20,5 cm (2,6×8,1”)
Signed: N.V.OBSERVATOR ROTTERDAM
Origin: the Netherlands
Condition: little chip on the glass and on the dial near the 9
Rulers like this one are used to plot course lines and bearings on nautical charts. They can be rolled across the chart to the compass rose without changing its orientation.
Catalog: NM.3-20
Date: ca. 1900
WL: 50×7 cm (19,5×2.8 in)
Signed: not signed
Origin: unknown
Condition: in good working condition, wear consistent with age and use
Nice decorated parallel ruler.
Rulers like this one are used to plot course lines and bearings on nautical charts. They can be rolled across the chart to the compass rose without changing its orientation.
Catalog: NM.3-16
Date: 19th century
WL: 33×5,2 cm (13×2 in)
Signed: not signed
Origin: English
Condition: in good working condition, wear consistent with age and use
Heavy rolling ruler of rosewood with brass rollers.
Rulers like this one are used to plot course lines and bearings on nautical charts. They can be rolled across the chart to the compass rose without changing its orientation.
Catalog: NM.3-14
Date: 1880-1910
WL: 39×6 cm (15,3×2,3 in)
Signed: not signed
Origin: England
Condition: perfect
Divider with ball head in fine condition. One of the legs is marked with 62. The other with 41.
Catalog: NM.3-04
Date: 1760 – 1810
L: 13,5 cm (5,3 in)
Signed: not signed
Origin: unknown
Condition: perfect for its age
An early and interesting three mirror octant with Vernier nonius, made by or for S. Williams at Hull in 1767.
The first octant was created by Hadley in 1731. In Great-Britain and North-America the instrument was called the Hadley’s quadrant to distinguish it from the Davis quadrant. Hadley got in 1734 a patent for eleven years. Immediately after it came to an end other instrumentmakers started with making octants.
This octant is an early ebony one. The graduated scale is made of ivory with a Vernier nonius. The engraving is made by hand. At the graduation every degree is divided in parts of 20 minutes. The Vernier nonius is divided in twenty equal parts. The accuracy of reading with this nonius is one minute.
The lower horizon mirror and peepsight were used for backward observation. As the horizon just below the sun was invisible, in this way it was possible to use the opposite horizon. The instrument was used back to front. The observer had the sun in his back. The sunshades moved to the lower position.
This beautiful instrument with nice patin, is complete and in a fine condition, with three mirrors, two peep sights and three sunshades. On the backside three brass legs and the adjusting-screws.
The mirror table of this octant is also made of ebony. Octants of a later date have brass ones. The nonius does not have a double scale anymore but still has the width of a double scale.
Catalog: NM.2-44
Date: 1767
HW: 45,5×38,5 cm (18×15 in)
Radius (rotation axis till nonius): 39,5 cm (15.5 in)
Signed: * S. Williams Hull 1767 *
Origin: England
Condition: very well
Well preserved middle sized, dry card and gimbaled compass in painted wooden case with slit cover. On the rose with 32 points, the name of the maker. North with beautiful fleur de lis. The paint on the dovetailed case is beautifully crackled. The outside of the binnacle is painted black over green. The inside of the binnacle is painted white without a lubber’s line.
Catalog: NM.2-13
Date: 1880-1900
HWL case: 15×21,5×21,5 cm (5,9×8,5×8,5”)
D compass: 14 cm (5,6”)
Signed: F. SMEDING. ENKHUIZEN.
Origin: Netherlands
Condition: perfect with signs of wear
Very small ruler, only 6 inch wide.
Rulers like this one are used to plot course lines and bearings on nautical charts. They can be rolled across the chart to the compass rose without changing its orientation.
Catalog: NM.3-15
Date: 1850-1900
WL: 15,5×3,7 cm (6×1,5 in)
Signed: not signed
Origin: England
Condition: in good working condition, smal angle piece missing
Eigtheen century brass protractor with hand engraved inner and outer scales. Tapered outer edges and beveled straigth edges. The name of the maker engraved in flamboyant style.
Catalog: NM.2-52
Date: 1770-1790
HW: 6,5×9,5 cm
Signed: Godelar A Paris
Origin: France
Condition: excellent