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 fine octant made of ebony and brass. With three mirrors, three colored horizon glass shades, double peepsight and ivory pencilholder. On the backside three brass legs, the adjusing-screws and an ivory slate for making notices.
This instrument is made around 1800, but is a modern instrument in a state of transition. Mention the old fashion way of adjusting the horizon mirror for back sight and the ‘modern’ way of adjusting the other horizon mirror.
Scale of ivory reads from minus 2 to 98 degrees, nice engraved by hand.
The upper peepsigth has two holes and a shutter, the lower one only one hole. The central hole is for direct observation of the sun, the other one, just outside the path of rays, could be used in stead of the sunshades to weaken the sunligth.
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.
Originally instrument and box don’t belong together. At some moment, octant and box are adjusted to each other.
Catalog: NM.2-27
Date: 1790-1810
HW octant: 35×28 cm (13.6×11 in)
Radius (rotation axis till nonius): 29 cm (11.3 in)
Signed: J. FOSTER : MAKR : LIVERPOOL
Chest: LARMOUR & Co. BALTIMORE
Origin: England
Condition: a small part of the ivory nonius is missing, nice patin
Gimbaled dry card compass in brass bowl. On the rose the name of the maker.
With wooden case of pine with dovetails and sliding cover. The inside of the bowl is painted white with lubber’s line. On the glass a brass pivot for an azimuthring.
Catalog: NM.1-01
Date: 1880 – 1900
HWL case: 15x23x23 cm (5 7/8×9 1/8x9n 1/8”)
D compass: 15,6 cm (6 1/8”)
Signed: J.B. BRIAND, NANTES. + Fab. de Compas Instrum.ts de Marine +
Origin: France
Condition: perfect, minor repairs on the case
Very fine octant of ebony in original stair stepped case of oak with lock and little key. The inset scale of ivory reads from 0 to 105 degrees, nice engraved by hand. This octant is identical to the octants sold by D. McGregor in Glasgow.
Catalog: NM.1-22
Date: 1820-1850
HWL case: 13×33,8×31,2 cm (5,1×13,3×12,3 in)
HW octant: 30,5×25,5 cm (12×9,8 in)
Radius (rotation axis till nonius): 24,5 cm (9,5 in)
Signed: not signed, probably D. McGregor, Glasgow
Origin: England
Condition: perfect and complete, minor repair on the bottom of the case
Ship-log with tafrailshoe, rope and propellor, made of brass with enamel dial. The milometer on the scale messures up to 100 miles. Details and design features suggest a manufacture date around 1925.
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.
Fixed on the rail at the stern of a ship, the taffrail. The recorder would have been connected with a line to the spinner and the flywheel at the end of the line.
Catalog: NM.1-44
Date: ca. 1925
LD clock: 15×8,3 cm (6,5×5,3 in)
Signed: W. LUDOLPH BREMERHAVEN
Number: 39112
Origin: Germany
Condition: perfect and complete
Very fine and complete Brittish yacht sextant of black painted brass. In mahony case with dovetailes, lock and little key, baized-covered lid and bottom, carrying handle of brass. With silvered scale, graduated from -5 to 150 degrees, set in a brass arc.
Catalog: NM.1-12
Date: 1900-1920
HWL case: 12,8×25,5×23 cm (5x10x9,1 in)
HW sextant: 21,5×23 cm (8,4×9,1 in)
Signed: Manufactured by Heath & Co Ld Crayford, London. S.E. for J.J. Ribeiro Lisboa
Origin: England
Condition: perfect and complete
Nice quality single draw telescope with two bras tubes and good optics. Eye lens with a protective shutter. The mainbody is clad with waxed rope and in good condition. The eye lens has a sliding lens protector. The objective lens with a diameter of 55 mm (2,2”). The waxed rope barrel has taken on a nice antique patina, polished over the years.
Some signs of age and use, but with a beautiful patin, polished over the years.
The stand is new made of old oak of about the same age as the telescope.
Catalog: NM.2-29
Date: ca.1850
L: 75 cm and fully extended 104 cm (29,5 and 41”)
D objective side: 68 mm (2,7”)
Signed: P. Bassnett, Opticican, Liverpool and a trademark Try Me centred with an anchor
Origin: England
Condition: in working condition, wear consistent with age and use, shade missing
Price of the stand: E 85
A very fine two day marine chronometer made by Wilhelm Emmeche, Copenhagen, Denmark. In three-tier mahony case and a lift up glass cover. On the front an ivory nameplate and an ivory plate with No 4. No 4 is also on the dial. Hand-wound movement with power reserve of 56 hours. The movement is engraved, WILHELM EMMECHE KJÖBENHAVN No 4. With a lever for the gimbal. Beautiful patin. Good working. Both the cases and the movement are made of the finest quality. Case, chronometer and details look very similar to the chronometers made by Dent.
Catalog: NM.2-08
Date: ca. 1890-1910
HWL case: 19,2x18x18 cm (7,6×7,1×7,1”)
HWL caryingcase: 24,4×24,4×24,4 cm (9,6×9,6×9,6”)
D movement: 12,4 cm (4,9”)
Signed: WILHELM EMMECHE Kjöbenhavn
Origin: Denmark
Condition: perfect with some signs of use
Well preserved middle sized, dry card and semi 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 binnacle is made of red copper and brass. The inside of the binnacle is painted white with a lubber’s line. The case could be of a later date.
L.J. Harri sr. and jr. were compass makers in Amsterdam at the Oude Teertuinen from 1832 – 1872.
Catalog: NM.2-07
Date: ca. 1840
HWL case: 13x21x21.5 cm
D compass: 15.5 cm
Signed: L.J. HARRI. * AMSTERDAM *
Origin: Netherlands
Condition: perfect with signs of wear
Very fine and complete quartant of black painted brass. Well maintained case and instrument with key for adjusting the horizon mirror and binoculars. In mahony case with dovetailes, lock and little key, brass carrying handle an so on. Silvered scale, graduated from -5 to 185 degrees, set in a brass arc. In the brass part of the scale is engraved US NAVY N 4516. Case is also marked with the number 4516.
Made by Brandis and Sons, Brooklyn NY, instrumentmakers from 1890 till 1920.
Serialnumber of Brandis 3920 on the left side of the scale.
Catalog: NM.1-37
Date: 1900-1920
HWL case: 14×25,3×25,3 cm (4,9×10,8×10,7”)
HW quartant: 19,5×25 cm (8,5×9,2”)
Signed: BRANDIS & SONS BROOKLYN NY
Origing: USA
Condition: perfect and complete