1830s Scientific Instruments

In an article published in The American Surveyor (Winter 2007), Jeff Lock, noted Colonial Instrument Collector and Repair Person, said it best:

 "When I first laid my eyes on the Lewis Michael compass illustrated here, words could not describe the emotions I felt. I was looking at one of the most beautifully engraved examples of the 18th-century maker’s art. I have been collecting colonial antiques for decades and had never seen an example of craftsmanship that touched me on a personal level as did this instrument."
 The Lewis Michael compass offered here is nearly identical to the one featured in Lock's article. To my eye, this compass qualifies as a work of art. Michael Lewis honed his skills working for Benjamin Rittenhouse as an apprentice in the mid-1780s. If you look thru the Benjamin Rittenhouse compasses, you will see some that show a strong resemblance to the compass offered here.

 Interestingly, Lewis Michael made instruments over at least 4 decades, and he rarely changed the look of his compasses. This compass was likely made around 1830 when Lewis Michael lived in Somerset. 
The compass features a 14 inch mainplate with a 5.5 inch compass needle. The compass has a nicely functioning chain counter and a functioning level in the compass face.

 The compass comes with a beautiful wood box - likely the original. 

This compass is a wonderful example of a colonial era compass made by one of the most skilled engravers. Biographical info about Lewis Michael: Lewis Michael was born in 1762 in Germany. In 1786 after completing apprenticeship with Benjamin Rittenhouse he is listed as a journeyman in Worchester Township Montgomery County PA...

A brass Sextant by William Dolland, of typical form with a mahogany handle and selection of eye-pieces and lenses, in a fitted wooden case with a paper m...

Early 19th century Naval Navigational Octant by John Crichton (London) in Original Case, circa 1830s, an ebony frame quadrant with brass mounted lens, mi...

Elegant English apothecary cabinet, dated back to the first half of the nineteenth century, with mahogany case, brass handle and brass hinges, with key. Th...

By Bate, London. R.B Bate ran an optical and scientific instrument business during the first half of the 19th century in London. Circular with two wood wrapped handles. Markings and ...

Very rare barometer signed "Barometro secondo Torricelli Berti fece", made in Italy in the first half of the 19th century mounted on an ebonized wooden board, plates with weather in ...

Torricelli barometer, mahogany, with thermometer and hygrometer, including a level for the right position, signed A. Intross Strood, first half of...

With two handles, by Bate, London. These were made as reference standards against which other weights could be checked for accuracy.

A rare and large English late Regency period rosewood mother-of-pearl inlaid clock barometer signed G. Rossi, Norwich. This very large instrument is excep...

Elegant mercury barometer with a glass tube filled with mercury, with the open side in a bulb with other mercury. The tube is mounted on a mahogany plank, with some cedar wood parts;...

Rare and elegant barometer and mercury thermometer made in the first half of the nineteenth century by the optician from Lucerne F. Kuhn. The barom...

France circa 1830. All unique sizes, 2" dia x 5"-10" h.