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.
Attractive gimbaled dry card compass in a brass, yellow painted bowl. Wooden case of pine with sliding cover with dirty grey painted inside. Made by Georg Neuenstadt, Koningsberg, Germany (Kalinningrad, Russia). The inside of the bowl also dirty grey with four lubber’s lines.
The rose is made of lackered paper stiffed with mica and another layer of paper, which indicates an early compass. On the underside a strong and heavy needle and a name, difficult to read.
Strong and heavy needles are introduced in 1745 by Gowen Knight.
Catalog: NM.1-39
Date: around 1800
HWL case: 11×15,5×15,5 cm (4 3/8×6 1/8×6 1/8“)
D compass: 9,5 cm (3 4/8”)
Signed: GEORG NEUENSTADT in KONIGSBERG 18
Origin: Germany
Condition: perfect
The parallel ruler is a navigation instrument to set up bearings and course lines in the sea chart.
Catalog: NM.3-02
Date: ca. 1900
WL: 55,5×6,3 cm
Signed: not signed
Origin: unknown
Condition: in good working condition, wear consistent with age and use
Brass divider with steel tips in fine condition.
Catalog: NM.2-38
Date: 1880-1920
L: 20 cm (7,9”)
Signed: not signed
Origin: continental
Condition: in working condition, wear consistent with age and use
On the log, behind a rotary slide there are three dials, the first registers the miles up to 100, the second registers the units up to 10 mile, the third registers quarters of a mile.
On the enamel scale: NEW YACHT LOG – ORIGINAL LLL TRADEMARK – EDWd. MASSEY, LONDON – PATENTEE
In the four rotator blades is stamped a star shaped motif with the letter M.
The log is a scaled down version of the fritionless log which was introduced in 1865. A start date of manufacturing of this yacht log is unknown, but a similar sized and shaped log, called the Conical End Log was being advertised in the Wilson 1877 catalogue. (Distance Run p120).
In Yachtsman Manual of 1874 this log was adverised for a price three pounds.
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. As the rotator was dragged behind the ship then the log rotated and the revolutions were transformed in miles on the dials, to be read after the rotator was brought on deck.
The design of Massey was further refined by Thomas Walker and Son, including the stabilizer. Walker took out a patent for the A1 Harpoon Log in 1861.
Catalog: NM.2-33
Date: 1870-1900
L: 40 cm (15,7”)
Signed: EDWd MASSEY and insciption of the trader, F.M. Moore Ltd, Belfast
Origin: England
Condition: excellent
Well preserved whalingcompass with attractive 32-point rose. The rose carries the name of the maker. On the rose, north with fleur de lis. The inside of the binnacle is painted dirty white with lubber’s line. The inside of the lidis marked with 440.
Catalog: NM.2-15
Date: 1800-1830
H: 11 cm (4,3”)
D binnacle: 14 cm (5 4/8”)
Signed: F.J. KLOOS. * ROTTERDAM. *
Origin: Netherlands
Condition: perfect
A foghorn for sailing-vessels was used in foggy wether to pinpoint the ship and to indicate how the vessel is sailing. One blast, when sailing on starboard tack. Two blasts, when sailing on port tack. Three dots, when with wind abaft the beam.
The dovetailed, pine case is painted red with stenciled Norwegian Pattern, operating instructions, original leather strap, brass side crank and copper trumped horn.
Catalog: NM.1-07
Date: late 19th century
HWL case: 38x59x20cm (15×23,2×7,9”)
Origin: England
Condition: perfect, in working condition, wear consistent with age and use
Very fine and complete Navy sextant of black painted brass. Mahony case with dovetailes, lock and little key, brass carrying handle an so on. The inside has a baized-covered lid and bottom. The case is marked with the number 442.
Silvered scale, graduated from -5 to 153 degrees, set in a brass arc. The scale of the sextant is marked with S on the left side and with D 442 on the right side.
Numbering of the case is similar to he numbering of the US Navy sextantcases.
Serialnumber of the sextant is similar to the way of numbering by Brandis and Sons in Brooklyn.
Catalog: NM.1-05
Date: 1900-1920
HWL case: 12,5×27,5×27 cm (4,9×10,8×10,7”)
HW sextant: 21,5×23,3 cm (8,5×9,2”)
Signed: not signed
Origin: USA
Condition: perfect and complete with some few signs of corrosion
Liquid compass in brass binnacle with handle and battery lightning. In wooden case of mahoney.
Made by E. Vion, 38 Rue de Turenne, Paris after 1922.
On top of the compass an adjustable prism with back-side. The inside of the bowl is painted white with dread and lubber’s line.
Catalog: NM.1-03
Date: 1920-1940
HWL case: 32x16x15 cm (12,6×6,3×5,9”)
HD compass: 25×11 cm (9,8×4,3”)
Signed: MINISTÈRE DE LA SANTE PUBLIQUE, E. VION PARIS
Origin: France
Condition: good, mirror weather-beaten
Well preserved pocketcompass in elegant brass box. The carton rose is hand made with 32 points in different colors. At the botom the original rose of about 1850 with the main directions and the name of the maker. In the lid a fixed compass rose with the compass indications and also the name of the maker.
Catalog: NM.2-23
Date: ca. 1850
HD case: 2×7 cm (0,82,8 in)
Signed: Springer Maker Bristol
Origin: England
Condition: perfect