3. Nautical Instruments

3.41   AMERICAN OCTANT.  Extra nice second half of the 19th century brass octant by one of  America’s most noted makers, “John Bliss & Co., New York” as engraved on the large arc.  This quality instrument has an inlaid silver scale divided in degrees from -5 to 120 subdivided to 15 arc minutes.  The silver vernier scale inlaid in the index arm is calibrated from 0 to 15 minutes providing a reading to an accuracy of 15 arc seconds.  The braced cast bronze frame is in its original blackened finish.  It supports the pivoting index arm 9 ¾ inches in length.  The large arc is 8 ½ inches wide.  The arm has knurled index stop and a knurled tangent fine adjust knob.  To aid in taking a reading the arm is equipped with a pivoting vernier magnifier.  This fine instrument is complete with both index and horizon mirrors, full set of index (4) and horizon (3) filters.  It is equipped with a fixed telescope mount which accommodates either of the 2 sighting scopes – one peep and one telescopic.  The back of the instrument retains its original early style sculpted mahogany handle and three mounting “feet.”   It is totally complete with screw-on sun filter and mirror adjustment tool.  The entire presentation is in an outstanding and original state of original preservation.  The blackened finish is excellent throughout.  The brass surfaces are clean and bright.  This octant is housed in its original hand-dovetailed mahogany box with brass furniture 11 by 9 ½ inches and 5 inches thick.  Complete with box lock, folding bail handle and closure hooks.  Overall condition is truly exceptional.  There are the typical age cracks in the solid wood panels of the box, expected of wood over 130 years old.  But it is sound and very handsome in its original finish.  A great find priced to sell.  585

John Bliss was first listed in the New York directories with his partner Frederick Creighton as watch makers at 42 Fulton Street, New York.  In 1843 they advertised “American Chronometers equal to English.”  In 1845 they moved to 26 Burlington Slip and the firm name became John Bliss & Co.  In 1869 the company moved to 66 South Street.  In 1872 Bliss purchased the entire stock of the venerable Blunt & Co.  In addition to chronometers, Bliss manufactured other nautical instrument including a taffrail log which they patented in 1864.  The Bliss firm continued well into the 1900’s supplying nautical instruments and charts to mariners. (M.V. Brewington, “The Peabody Museum Collection of Navigating Instruments,” 1963, Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.)

3.40  EARLY BOXED COMPASS.  Particularly fine first half of the 1800’s gimbaled dry card steering compass.  This near pristine example of English manufacture has a mica card overlaid by an engraved paper compass rose marked in points of the compass.  The cardinal and intercardinal points are identified.  It is further divided down to ½ half points.  Of significance and telling of it age is the fact that the East point is decorated with floral flourishes.  The large center brass pivot with agate cap overlays an 8-pointed star burst.  It is housed in a heavily weighted brass bowl with wavy glass cover.  The compass bowl is slung in a substantial cast brass gimbal ring which is mounted by unusually nice brass fasteners in its solid oak box.  The box is of highest quality construction with dovetailed finger joints and is complete with its original splined sliding oak lid.  The outside of the box bears the oval brass label of “J.S. & W. LORD, Birmingham.”  The compass itself measures 4 inches in diameter.  The box is 6 1/8 inches square and 5 inches high.  Truly outstanding original condition in every respect.  The compass card is clear and bright.  The brass bowl retains the majority of its original lacquered surface.  The box is in its original finish with no chips, cracks or losses.  A real keeper if ever there was one.  Over 150 years old!  489

The earliest recorded reference of a compass used in the Western world took place during the Crusades from Europe to the Holy Land in the 11th century A.D.  It was during these Crusades to the Middle East that the Christian cross became symbolic of the destination of the Crusaders as designated by the "East" point on the compass rose.  The centuries old tradition of the "decorated East" remained with mariners until the early 1800’s.

3.39  BOXED COMPASS.  Late 19th century American small wet card boat compass by Star, Boston.  This very handsome navigating instrument is made of solid bronze!  The rim of the compass is impressed “STAR BOSTON. U.S.A.” with the serial number.  The composition cloth card is marked in points and degrees.  Cardinal and intercardinal points of the compass are identified, with North marked by a star and signed “STAR-BOSTON. U.S.A.”  It is divided down to ½ points of the compass and the periphery is divided from 0 – 360 in 5 degree increments marked by 10’s.  The center pivot has a brass cap.  The heavily weighted bowl is slung in gimbals, mounted in a machine-dovetailed mahogany box with sliding lid.  The compass itself measures 3 ½ inches in diameter.  The box is 5 ½ inches square and 4 inches high.  Absolutely outstanding original condition in all respects.  The compass is lively and accurate.  A little gem!  325

The Star Brass Manufacturing Company of Boston, Massachusetts was in existence prior to 1885.  A U.S. patent was awarded to the company in 1893 for a steam pressure gauge.  A number of competing companies producing similar products for the industrial revolution after the Civil War included Ashcroft, Crosby, and the American Steam Valve and Gauge Co.

3.38   RARE SURVEYING SEXTANT.  Most important, very high quality marine navigational sextant which also served as an astronomical and hydrographic survey instrument.  This magnificent all brass precision instrument is signed on the large arc “Cary, London 2842 Gold & Platina.”  The large arc is calibrated in single degrees from -5 to 150 degrees divided by 10 arc minutes, effectively making it a quintant.  The scale is beautifully engraved on solid gold overridden by a platinum vernier scale.  The division of the vernier from 0 -10 allows for a reading to an accuracy of 10 arc seconds.  Interestingly the sheet brass frame is very similar to the one invented by Edward Troughton in the 1780’s, in that it is secured to a second frame by screws for rigidity and accuracy. This amazing instrument has many unusual cutting edge features.  The index arm stop and the fine adjust tangent screw are spring loaded, allowing a much smoother reading.  To take the reading there is a small adjustable magnifier built into the index arm, as well as a small frosted glass window mounted just above the magnifier to provide maximum lighting for the reading.  Above the magnifier, mounted to the index arm, is a bubble level which can be locked into place or allowed to swing free indicating the plane of the earth, also known as an artificial horizon.  This sextant is equipped with its full set of 4 colored glass index filers and 3 horizon filters for viewing in different atmospheric conditions.  Both the index and horizon mirrors are in place and functional.  Attesting to Cary’s attention to minute detail, both are equipped with pin-adjusted screws which are covered by threaded knurled caps!  This sextant has an adjustable height eyepiece operated  by a knurled knob on the reverse.  The eyepiece supports a long telescopic sighting tube which fits nicely into the holder with a bayonet twist.  The back side of the sextant frame has 3 brass “feet” and a rosewood handle reinforced with brass.  But there its commonality with other fine sextants is surpassed.  It is mounted, through its handle to an exceptionally heavy and well-machined tripodal stand.  The stand is signed “G. LEE & SON, THE HARD, PORTSMOUTH.”  It is equipped with 3 knurled leveling screws on a folding base mounted with a support much like a library telescope.  At the top is a revolving platform with a tangent locking screw and fine adjust stop.  These are for precisely orientating the instrument to the heavens.  The tilt of the sextant fore and aft is accomplished by 2 pivoting levers attached to the stand.  Each is attached to a brass-encased lead counterweight.   The action is flawless!  The sextant itself measures 10 ¾ inches wide on the large arc and 10 ½ inches on the index arm.  It stands 18 inches high and 10 ¼ inches wide on the base.  Circa 1820.  Absolutely outstanding condition.   As rare as it gets.  Museum quality.  Price Request

The Cary name was highly revered in the late 18th and early 19th century scientific community in England.  William Cary began business as an optician and nautical instrument maker on the Strand, London in 1789.  He partnered with John Cary (I) in 1791.  John Cary (II) was William’s nephew who partnered with George Cary to form the famous globe making firm. William died in 1825.

George Lee was a maker in the early 19th century who enjoyed a Royal appointment as maker to the Crown.

3.84  EARLY MARINER’s  QUADRANT with MUSEUM PROVENANCE.   Particularly well-preserved navigational instrument dating from the late 1700’s, ex. museum collection.  This large octant, otherwise known as a “Hadley quadrant,” has limbs of mahogany, ivory scales and brass furniture.  It is of the double reflecting type, introduced by John Hadley to the Royal Society in 1735, after which such instruments saw acceptance and production in very nearly this same form for the next 100 years!  This example has distinctive characteristics which date it to circa 1790.  They include the existence of a backsight, mahogany vs. ebony construction, interchangeable filters, ivory pencil and large flat index arm with simple stop and left reading 0-20 vernier scale.  (See our customer help feature “History of the Sextant”).  This instrument is of classic form with an engraved ivory scale reading from -2 to 99 degrees signed with the “SBR” monogram indicating it was made by the prestigious firm of Spencer, Browning & Rust using their recent version of Jesse Ramsden’s dividing engine invented in the early 1780’s.  The ivory index arm vernier scale is calibrated from 0 to 20 minutes, providing an accuracy of one arc minute.  The frame is of mahogany (vs. ebony) indicating it is of earlier manufacture.   It is complete with its very rarely-found pencil for noting readings and small inland trapezoidal ivory notepad inlaid on the reverse.   The reverse also bears all of the brass fittings for adjusting the mirror boxes and all three brass “feet.”  This handsome instrument measures 16 inches long by 13 inches wide on the long arc.  The original case is constructed of hand-dove-tailed pinewood in its very desirable early deep blue paint.  Interestingly a number of the mariner’s original observations are penciled in the lid, making it a great, first hand, real time, intimate window into shipboard history!  The museum accession numbers “T266” are finely painted in red on both the instrument and its box.  The box measures 17 ½ inches long by 15 ¼ inches wide and 3 ¾ inches thick.  Aside from their already acknowledged rarity, such instruments hardly ever come to the market with their original boxes, and virtually NEVER in such fine, pristine, original condition!This quadrant is well over 200 years old!! Price Request

The venerable firm of Spencer, Browning and Rust was a prolific manufacturer of navigational instruments since the partnership was established in 1780.  The name appeared in the London Directories between 1780 and 1784 as being at 327 High Street, Wapping, London.   In 1798 the firm moved to 66 High Street and remained there into the 1840’s when the firm name became Spencer, Browning & Co. 

3.37  IMPRESSIVE INCLINOMETER.  Very finest quality ship’s pilothouse gauge used to measure the ship’s heel (roll) when underway and its trim when in port.  This precision instrument has an enamel dial marked in individual degrees PORT and STBD. from 0 to 50.  The first 20 degrees are further calibrated in ½ degree increments.  The measurement is indicated by a black spade hand connected to internal gearing and a heavy brass weight.  The dial is marked “HEEL” and “DEGREES,” then is signed “KELVIN & HUGHES LTD. Made In Great Britain” at the bottom.  The dial is protected by thick beveled glass set into a heavy cast brass bezel.  The bezel is fitted to a thick sold brass case with 3 mounting feet and a knurled locking knob at the bottom for disenabling the mechanism when not in use.  This fine navigational instrument measures 9 inches in diameter an 2 3/8 inches deep.   It is mounted to a rich hardwood backboard 12 inches in diameter.  The backboard has one of our unique hanging brackets which provides secure suspension while allowing movement of the mechanism.  Lovely, fully restored cosmetic condition in a bright brass finish.  695

3.30  MINIATURE SEXTANT.   Truly extraordinary, if not completely unique, 2nd quarter 1800’s midshipman’s sextant (aka lifeboat sextant) made by the highly revered early English maker William Cary as beautifully hand-engraved on the large silver arc “Cary, London 968.”   This amazing instrument is actually a semi circumferentor having a scale divided to a full 180 degrees of arc, sub-divided to 20 arc minutes!   This was a spectacular feat of precision engineering at the time, attesting to Cary’s genius.  It was not attempted by any of his contemporaries even on larger more easily calibrated instruments.  This pristine all brass instrument is in its original blackened finish. The tangent fine adjust knob works in consort with the knurled index arm stop. The large scale is overridden by the index arm vernier scale calibrated to provide a reading down to an accuracy of an amazing 20 arc seconds!  This was virtually unheard of for an instrument of its size at the time.  It is a cutting age accomplishment literally akin to the moon exploration more than 125 years later!   The index arm is equipped with an adjustable magnifier to view the reading.  This compact navigational instrument has both index and horizon mirrors and a height adjustable sight holder which accommodates 3 telescopes housed in its box.   Incredibly, 2 index filters and 2 horizon filers are also provided.  On the reverse it has a sculpted solid ebony handle and 3 positioning “feet.”   This diminutive instrument measures  a mere 5 ¼ inches wide on the broad arc and 4 ½ inches long on the index arm.  It is housed in its original rich African mahogany box with very fine hand-dove tailed construction measuring 5 ½ inches square by 3 ¼ inches thick.  It is complete with all three sighting tubes and 2 eye piece filters.  Incredibly the box lock is complete with its original skeleton key!  Within the lid are two original labels.  The first is by “HENRY PORTER Successor to the Late W. CARY.”  The second is a hand-inked label dated 1888 indicating the correction of the index error in June 1888.  This extraordinary presentation is worthy of the finest world class museum.  In fact it must ultimately go to a museum as the trail of its past dictates.  We are all caretakers of our prized possessions, but not owners in perpetuity.  3900

William Cary was a patriarch of the family of instrument makers in England which brought that country to world prominence in the early 1800’s.  Born in 1759, Cary apprenticed to the premier 18th century instrument maker, Jesse Ramsden.  Cary began his own practice in 1789 at 277 The Strand, London.  In 1821 he moved to 181 The Strand where the business flourished thereafter.  In partnership with his brother John, William produced some of the finest and most highly sought after antique globes sold today.  The signature J & W Cary is a mark of excellence in the current marketplace.  William Cary died in 1825.  But his apprentice Henry Porter carried on the firm in his master’s name.  Owing to the quality and execution of the finest details of this superior instrument, it is our opinion that this sextant is indeed by the hand of the master, William Cary, as signed “Cary, London.”  Inasmuch as Porter’s trade label in the lid states “Apprentice and Successor to the Late W. Cary,” surely this instrument dates very close to or prior to Cary’s demise.

Such miniature sextants were popular as functional but very expensive novelties during the second quarter of the 19th C.  Many were awarded as prizes for superior performance by their recipients in navigational academies of the time.  Other well known makers such as Troughton & Simms produced a nominal amount of such quality instruments at the time.  (See item 3.92) 

3.29 TELLTALE COMPASS. Scarce, particularly handsome Captain’s cabin “upside down compass” by the very respected early American makers “S. Thaxter & Son, Boston” as elaborately embellished around the center pivot. This large pristine example is all brass. The hand-engraved dry card compass is backed by mica. The center has an agate cap encircled by a brass cone which prevents the card from becoming dislodged from the pivot. The pivot extends through the thick glass bottom. The traditional compass rose is sub-divided by half points with the cardinal and intercardinal points identified. North is designated by a very elaborate fleur-de-lis. The periphery of the card is calibrated in single degrees marked by 10’s in 90 degree quadrants. The compass body is solid brass and the heavy glazed bezel has a classic flare. The body is suspended in a heavy brass gimbal ring supported by an equally heavy braced U-shaped bracket. The face of the compass measures 7 ¼ inches in diameter and the body is 4 inches thick. The bracket is 10 inches wide and when installed the compass hangs 7 inches from the overhead. The compass card itself is lively and accurate. Overall condition is absolutely outstanding for and item like this approximately 160 years old! A museum piece.   SOLDBack to Top

To monitor the heading of the ship while in his cabin, the ship’s captain was provided with a telltale compass. One per ship! A unique feature of these Captain’s cabin compasses is the backward card, designed to be read from below. As such, the North and South positions are as all compasses, but East and West are reversed.

Samuel Thaxter was a premier early American nautical instrument maker. Born in 1769 in Colonial Massachusetts he began his business in 1792 on State Street in Boston. In 1822 Thaxter took his son Joseph into the business under the name Samuel Thaxter & Son. The elder Thaxter died in 1842 and sometime during the Civil War his son relinquished the business to an apprentice, H. R. Starrat, who carried on the firm’s name into the early 1900’s. This compass likely dates to the Civil War.

A nearly identical English version of this compass, made by the 18th century English nautical instrument maker, John Gilbert, is shown on page 186, Plate XXIX of M. V. Brewington’s “The Peabody Museum Collection of Navigating Instruments,” 1963, Peabody Museum, Salem Massachusetts. Another such compass by the Thaxters (pictured) is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

3.21  LARGE AMERICAN STEERING COMPASS.   Third quarter 19th century ship’s steering compass made by one of America’s leading compass manufacturers, “*D. BAKER, MELROSE, MASS*” as inscribed around the center pivot.  This unusually large master ship’s magnetic compass has a beautiful compass rose riding above bar magnets supported in the middle by a brass pivot with agate cap.  Indicative of its early manufacture the rose is divided by points of the compass with the cardinal and intercardinal points identified.  Then it is further divided down to ½ points.  North is indicated with an elaborate pinwheel decoration.  The walls of the compass are marked with lubber’s lines at 90 degrees.  The heavy brass compass body with glazed cover is slung in gimbals pivoting on stout brackets on each side.  The gimbal ring is serial numbered “900.”  The entire unit is contained in its original solid oak box with unusual oak bulkhead hanging bracket.  The compass measures 8 ¼ inches in diameter and the box is 10 ½ inches square.  With hanging bracket it stands 11 ½ inches tall.  Approximately 140 years old!  Outstanding original condition in all respects.   The lovely compass card is virtually perfect and it is lively and accurate.  One of the best we’ve ever seen and a better example not to be found!  Price Request Back to Top

Research indicates that David Baker began his manufactory on the outskirts of Boston in 1873.  The majority of his compasses were 4 ½, 6 ½ and 7 1/8 inches in diameter.  We know of no larger examples.  Known serial numbers range from 2808 to 3168.  Many surviving examples exhibit damage and/or toning on the interior.   Baker received a patent for his so-called “Axial Balance, Always Steady” compass in 1896.  The extant example bearing these marking has an illegible 4 digit serial number possibly staring with a “3.”  Accordingly the example offered here is certainly one of his earliest.

3.22  VERY EARLY ENGLISH SEXTANT.  Class “A” mariner’s navigational sextant engraved in lovely script “Imray & Son, 89 & 102 Minories London.”  This old instrument has a solid brass large arc inlaid with a silver scale reading from -5 to 155 degrees, effectively making it a "quintant."  The degree scale is subdivided to 15 arc minutes.  It is overlaid by the pivoting index arm with silver vernier scale left-divided from 0 – 15 minutes, subdivided to 15 arc seconds.  This allowed the observer to take a reading down to a 15 second accuracy or ¼ mile!  The reading is made with the knurled thumbscrew stop and the knurled tangential thumbscrew fine adjustment knob.  To aid in taking the reading a pivoting magnifier is set above the scale.   This quality instrument is the standard form of the era with braced brass frame and index arm, both index and horizon mirrors, 3 multi-colored index filters, 3 multi-colored horizon filters and a height adjustable sighting tube holder, all in perfect shape.  The rear of the sextant has 2 brass “feet” and an early form sculpted ebony handle.  It is contained in its old style “keystone” box (not square) made of figural African mahogany with very thin hand-dove-tailed joints.  The box is totally complete with all 3 sighting tubes:  a long telescope, a short telescope, and a peep tube, screw-on eye piece and mirror box adjusting tool.  The lid bears the label of Imray’s neighbor “A. Johansen 149 Minories.” The box itself has some typical age-related drying cracks which do not affect its soundness.  The lid is minus its brass shield inlay.  It is complete with its box lock and 2 hook and eye closures.  The sextant itself measures 10 inches wide on the large arc and 9 1/8 inches long on the index arm.  The box measures 12 inches wide by 10 ½ inches long and 4 5/8 inches thick.  Circa1850.  Overall this is an exceptional surviving relic from the days of sail 170 years old!  Try finding one this good on eBay!  WAS 1195  NOW! 795  

James Imray was a nautical instrument maker and chart publisher in London beginning in1846.  His last address was 102 Minories, London in 1851.  The house number of “89” engraved on this instrument suggests it dates earlier than his final address.  (Gloria Clifton, “Directory of British Scientific Instrument makers 1550-1851,” 1995, The National Maritime Museum, Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd.)

3.18  AZIMUTH INSTRUMENT.  Genuine, highest quality ship’s navigational instrument made by the esteemed American makers, “NEGUS NEW YORK” as stamped on the bed plate and again on the maker’s tag on the box.  This precision instrument is all brass with a blackened finish.  It has an optical quality glass prism which rotates via two knurled brass knobs.  Designed to be set atop the ship’s main steering compass in a binnacle, it has a magnifier set in a tube below the prism to enhance the current compass reading while at the same time providing an image of the sun or celestial body.  Two pivoting sun shades are provided for looking at the former.  A removable “line-of-sight” pole is provided, as is a bubble level for assuring totally accurate level readings.  This instrument fits the top of a standard size 8 inch Navy magnetic compass.  It measures 9 ¼ inches long by 3 3/8 inches wide and 8 ¾ inches high with the removable vertical post.  Absolutely mint, untouched, original factory condition in its original dove-tailed wooden box with brass hardware measuring 10 1/4 by 7 ½ inches by 5 ½ inches thick. 199

Primarily used to determine LAN (Local Apparent Noon) the azimuth instrument is an effective tool for determining the ship’s latitude by measuring the sun’s altitude at the exact time of meridian passage.

The Negus firm first appeared in the New York City directories at 84 Wall Street in 1850.  Thomas Stewart was trained as a chronometer maker in England and began working with his brother, John David in 1848, first under the name of Thos. S. Negus & Co.   During the Civil War the firm moved to 100 Wall Street and the name changed to T.S. & J.D. Negus.  The business of chronometer and navigational instrument making continued to grow, causing them to move to 69 Pearl Street in 1875.   From the Civil War onward, Negus enjoyed the patronage of the U.S. Navy as the suppliers of chronometers and other navigational equipment.   By the early 1900’s T.S. & J.D. Negus had established themselves as the leading nautical instrument makers and chandler in the United States.  In 1962 the firm was purchased by Max Low & Co.  Low found success in providing the government with navigational instruments, clocks and deck watches during World War II.  Max Low’s son, Charles, continued the business in New York through the 1980’s when the firm was finally dissolved.

3.17  EARLY BOXED COMPASS.  Rare, first quarter of the 19th century American boxed compass with the card signed around the center pivot “R. L. SHAW 22 WATER St NEW YORK.”  This highest quality dry card compass has an engraved paper card overlaying mica.  The central brass pivot has an agate bearing.  Indicative of its early origins the card is only marked in points, not degrees.  The cardinal and intercardinal points are identified down to the remaining individual points.  32 in all.  North is denoted by an elaborate Fleur-de-lis.  It is housed in its weighted brass bowl with old wavy glass cover slung in gimbals.  The gimbal ring has two extended pivots which fit into brass V brackets mounted in the box.  As such, the compass is easily removed for cleaning and inspection.  The solid oak box is of exceptional quality, being of stout hand-dovetailed construction with it original chamfered sliding lid.   When the lid is inserted it effectively locks the compass in place.  The compass itself measures 5 inches in diameter.  The box is 7 ¼ inches square and 5 ½ inches high.  The compass is very lively and accurate, gimbaling properly within its box.  Overall condition is excellent.  There is some minor age toning on the card in the southern quadrant which in no way affects its quality or appeal.  This is yet another exceptional museum-quality marine antique offered by this longstanding company, about 200 years old!  SOLD

Robert Shaw was a respected nautical instrument maker and ship chandler in New York City in the early 1800’s.  We have sold examples of navigational octants with his signature.

3.16/19.87 YACHT TAFFRAIL LOG. An amazing find! Late 19th century American patent log for small vessels made by the venerable nautical firm of Negus, New York. What is particularly remarkable about this set is its mint, UNUSED condition in the original box with instructions! The lovely instrument has a porcelain dial within its glazed brass housing. The dial is signed“ NEGUS PATENT LOG” and is calibrated on the periphery from 0 – 50 miles in one mile increments, marked by 5’s. The subsidiary dial at the bottom indicates tenths of miles. The log itself is equipped with a large brass bail handle and terminates in a free wheeling governor to which the log line and lead are attached. The “fish” (rotator) is solid brass and is marked “NEGUS M.” It is attached to approximately 10 fathoms of original cotton line. All of this is contained within the original cardboard box with interior “Directions” in the lid and outer decorative label reading “NEGUS PATENT LOG.” It is complete with its rarely-found separate instruction sheet entitled “HOW TO USE.” The box measures 10 inches long by 3 5/8 inches wide and 3 ¾ inches high. Condition of the contents is superb – factory new. The box shows signs of normal wear expected of an object over 100 years old. 595

3.14/5.46  U.S. NAVY CLINOMETER.  Authentic World War II fighting ship’s pilot house inclinometer made for the Navy by the John L. Chaney Instrument Company.  The face of the Bakelite body is engraved:

CLINOMETER
U.S. NAVY BU-SHIPS
MK IV
1943
JOHN L. CHANEY INSTR. CO.
LAKE GENEVA WISC., U.S.A.

This precision device is calibrated in single degrees of heel port and starboard up to 70 marked by 10’s.  The reading is made by a small black ball within a curved glass tube containing fluid.  The fluid acts to dampen (slow) the ball as the ship rolls.  This is exactly the same principle used in an aircraft’s turn and bank indicator.  The instrument measures 12 ½ inches wide by 6 ¼ inches high.  It is in excellent original condition, even showing the desirable “real world” remnants of old red and green paint applied by a zealous sailor!  The action of the ball is perfect.  395 

3.13   DOUBLE FRAME SEXTANT.   A very rare 19th century Class "A" English sextant by the esteemed makers, “Heath & Co. Ltd. Crayford, London” as prominently hand-engraved on the bottom of the scale.  This exceptional all brass navigational instrument is absolutely of the highest quality ever made.  It features a large arc with inlaid silver scale divided in degrees from -5 to an amazing 160, subdivided to 10 arc minutes, effectively making it a quintant.  The accompanying silver vernier scale on the index arm is divided from 0 – 10 enabling a reading down to 10 arc seconds!  Incredibly, in the days long before GPS, this allowed the navigator to determine his position within 10 miles of accuracy.  It is facilitated by the knurled index arm stop and the tangential fine adjust knob.  This was an important innovation at the time.  Of special note, this double frame sextant, also known as a “bridge” or “pillar frame: was invented Edward Troughton in the 1780’s.  Troughton’s idea was to make a sturdy, lightweight instrument which provided ultimate accuracy.  In this, he was very successful.  But its complexity and cost of manufacture prevented all but the wealthiest ship owners and captains to purchase such an instrument.  As such, very few were ever produced.  This rare example has a brass “T” frame in its orignal darkened finish with numerous circular screws securing the pillars front and back.  Both the index and horizon mirrors are in place as are the full compliment of 4 index filter and 3 horizon filters.  The index arm is equipped with a pivoting magnifier of exquisite quality – a signature feature of Heath’s splendid output.  This instrument has a height adjustable telescope holder.  On the back, the sculpted mahogany handle has an inset brass sleeve indicating this instrument could have been mounted on a support stand for hydrographic survey use.  It is complete in its very beautiful solid mahogany box of hand-dove-tailed construction.  It contains both optical telescopes and one peep tube, along with the two screw-on eyepiece sun filters and rarely-found folding tortoise shell magnifier together with box lock key.  The outside of the box bears the ivory plaque engraved “NAVAL SEXTANT 7 INCH PILLAR No. 18.”  This indicates Royal Navy use.  Below the plaque is an inset folding brass handle for carrying.  Inside the lid is the last certificate of inspection from the National Physical Laboratory, Kew Observatory dated 1911.  Fabulous original condition in all respects and totally complete.  It measures 9 ¼ inches long on the index arm and 10 ¾ inches wide on the arc.  The box is 10 by 10 ¾ inches and 5 3/8 inches thick.  Without question, this instrument is worthy of any world class collection. Circa 1880.   2785

3.03 EARLY AMERICAN NAUTICAL COMPASS. Quite unusual maritime compass of especially small size produced by the short-lived American scientific and nautical instrument making firm of “FRYE & SHAW * NEW YORK*” as hand-engraved around the pivot of the compass card. This functional ship’s compass has a paper over mica drycard compass rose marked in single points of the compass with the cardinal and sub-cardinal pointes identified. North is designated by a classic fleur-de-lis. The brass pivot is of conical form reminiscent of compasses dating back to the 17th century! Also in keeping with tradition, the East point is embellished with yet another fleur-de-lis. The card is housed in its weighted brass bowl slung in gimbals mounted in its heavy brass cylindrical housing complete with the original press-fit knurled brass lid. The compass is very lively, accurate, and gimbals properly. The presentation measures 3 5/8 inches in diameter and 2 inches thick with the lid. Condition is absolutely outstanding and original, in all respects. Totally original. This is a sweetheart of an offering, worthy of any museum. Not particularly cheap, but worth every penny. Find another! 888

Adington D. Frye and Robert Ludlow Shaw formed a partnership which was listed in the New York City Directories as mathematical instrument makers at 222 Water Street in 1837 and 1838. The New York State Directory lists the firm in operation from 1840-1845. (Charles E. Smart, “The Makers of Surveying Instruments in America Since 1700,” 1962, Regal Art Press, Troy, NY).

The decorated east point on the compass rose found its beginnings in the early Crusades as warriors battled their way East in search of the Cross. Early compasses were embellished with a cross on the east point reminding Crusaders of their goal. As time went on the cross gave way to a more secular embellishment, but the tradition of a “decorated” east point continued for centuries, finally falling out of favor with compass makers in the early 1800’s.

3.99 ANTIQUE HAND-HELD COMPASS. Very nice mid-19th century drycard compass made for the English speaking market. This diminutive all brass compass has an engraved paper card marked down to the single points of the compass with the cardinal and intercardinal points identified. North is denoted by a very fancy fleur-de-lis. The periphery is calibrated in single degree quadrants marked by 10’s, 0 through 90. At its center the card has a high quality brass pivot with inset agate bearing. It is housed under original old way glass within its all brass case with press-fit cover. The lid is engraved in script “DLS.” This compass is exactly 3 inches in diameter and 1 1/8 inches thick. Excellent old condition. The old magnetic compass bar is tired. But eventually it settles out to show North. A great old display piece. 229

3.97 NAVIGATOR’s PARALLEL RULES.   A large and important set of ship’s navigators chart rulers from the early part of the 1900’s.   This impressive set made of Bakelite with brass fittings measures 24 inches long by 3 1/4 inches wide, making it one of the biggest ever made!  It is signed “H. HUGHES & SON LTD” on the left end and “MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN” on the right.  Of special interest, due to its size, it has 3, not the typical 2 brass connecting arms.  Following the invention of Capt. Fields, it is marked as a protractor with 90 and 270 at the center, radiating to 360 on the left and 180 on the right end.   The lower limb is marked with “NESW, S and SENW” respectively.   The action is tight and precise.  Very handsome original condition.  The rich brown tone of the Bakelite nicely enhances the yellow gold of the brass.  A rare signed example which charted the way for many a successful voyage! 295