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Nineteenth Century American Oven Thermometer
An oven thermometer by Cooper of Pequabuck Connecticut-First Patented 1885,enamelled dial in good condition
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Wonderful Late 1830’s Ewin Compass With a Chandlee L-T Table
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Offered here is a very interesting late 1830s Ewin compass that has seen very little field use. What makes this compass so interesting is the internal chain counter (inside the compass box) and the L – T table on the South arm of the compass mainplate. Goldsmith Chandlee and his successor (George Graves) are the only makers to use internal chain counters and L – T Tables. (An L – T Table converts links from a 25 link 33 Read More...
Colonial Semi-Circumferentor With Engraved Trough Compass
This colonial era unsigned Semi-Circumferentor is one of the more common varieties – trough compass, brass semi-circle, brass alidade and sight vanes, and a wood block. The engraved compass card is another story, however. Wow. Semi-Circumferentors made largely out of wood were supposed to be a fairly cheap way for a surveyor to buy an instrument that could measure independently of the needle. So why would an affordable instrument have such a wonderfully engraved compass card???
I came across Read More...
W. Wilbraham Falconer’s Arthrometer for measuring joint movement
During the years following World War I, W. Wilbraham Falconer was the Superintendent of Mechanical Treatment at the Red Cross Clinic for the Physical Treatment of Disabled Officers in London. He is generally credited with introducing the term arthrometry and the development [C1920] of the first accurate arthrometer. In his words: ”Arthrometry or joint movement mensuration may be defined as a system for measuring by means of an instrument the various angles of movement of a joint of the Read More...
A fine and unusual set of Perkins Tractors
A fine and unusual set of Perkins tractors. Patented in 1896, this beautifully cased and fully signed set has a removable chamois divider. They are slightly smaller and more pronouncedly tear-shaped than the other sets we’ve seen. Length: 2.4″ The case is covered on top and sides in red morocco leather and green leather on the bottom; the hook and eye closure is intact and functional. Included among our images is Gillray’s 1801 satirical drawing of the tractors in use. Read More...
A Complete C1903 Hand-Painted Magic Lantern Slide Show
A literally unique set of 33 hand-painted magic lantern slides, dated 1903, and signed by John V. Yarnall. In addition, there is a curious series of 11 silhouette slides manufactured by T.H. McAllister (“Manuf’g Optician, 49 Nassau St, New York”). Apart from the date when he was working, and the fact that he was an American, we know nothing about Varnall. There are four groups of Yarnall slides. One, with a stereotypical racist theme, deals with the misadventures of Read More...
Very Nice Fauth Alidade – Circa 1902 – U.S. Reclamation Service (USRS)
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This is a very nice Fauth Alidade made by George Saegmuller for the United States Reclamation Service. The USRS was formed in 1902, and I suspect this instrument was made within a few years of the formation.
The telescope is 13.5 inches long and has GREAT optics. The image is inverted, which allows more light to come thru the scope. The trade-off, of course, is that the image is upside down. I didn’t see any crosshairs in the scope.
The Alidade has a base Read More...
Five Miniature Pilling & Son Medical Instruments
G.P. Pilling and Son was established in Philadelphia by George P. Pilling in 1854.The firm went on to become a major manufacturer of medical instruments and remains in operation today, in an amalgamated form, having been acquired by Teleflex in 1991. In the early 20th century their forte was stethoscopes and endoscopic equipment, especially those endoscopic instruments designed by Chevalier Jackson. They also produced a number of miniature instruments and often boxed them with a clever saying on the inside of Read More...
Esmarch WW1-Era Anesthesia Kit
Esmarch WW1-era anesthesia kit. Quoting from the Wood Library site:
“German surgeon Friedrich von Esmarch (1823-1908) introduced this inhaler in 1877. Cloth was stretched over the wire frame, providing a large surface for evaporation. Chloroform was dripped onto the cloth until the latter became saturated. More chloroform could be added as the agent evaporated. At the same time, the frame keeps the soaked cloth from touching the patient’s face, preventing skin irritation. Packed together with a chloroform flask, gauze and Read More...
Ainsworth Solar Transit – S/N 2946 – Nice Condition – Circa 1915
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This is a really neat circa 1915 Ainsworth Solar Compass. Ainsworth had a unique approach to attaching a Saegmueller Solar unit to a transit. Ainsworth would modify a Saegmueller solar unit to fit on a mining transit designed for a second scope and counterweight (like Berger used). I’ve asked around and Ainsworth was apparently the only maker who took this approach.
Note that the counterweight loop is only a half loop. I have no idea what that’s about – Read More...
Nathan Storrs Plain Compass and Matching Tripod – Circa 1795
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Nathan Storrs was born in Mansfield, Connecticut in 1768. Nathan’s family engaged in jewelry making, silver-smithing, and other related activities.
In 1792, he formed a partnership with Samuel Stiles as Stiles & Storrs. This partnership quickly dissolved and in 1792 Nathan joined Jedidah Baldwin in business as Baldwin & Storrs. This partnership lasted until 1793 when Baldwin moves to Hanover, NH. After that Storrs operated on his own for the most part.
Nathan Storrs had perhaps the broadest range of engraving Read More...
Small Lietz Mining Transit – Nice Condition – Circa 1925
One of my favorite things about this little instrument – Lietz made the instrument so that it lays in its box rather than stands upright. A very cool feature in my opinion.
The optics on both scopes are good, with all cross and stadia hairs present (only the main scope has stadia hairs). The caps and sunscreens are present as well.
The transit comes complete with its box and tripod, as shown below.
Lietz Model 12 Mountain and Mining Transits that have Read More...