1850s Scientific Instruments

A very handsome Victorian military explorer's compass dating to around 1840 / 1860 set in a hinged mahogany block measuring 2" square. The compass has a shapely blued-steel needle (...

This is an antique cased octant. A Scottish, ebony navigational instrument, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1850. Appealing navigation ins...

French brass and polished steel telescope with removable lens cap, spotting scope, and mounted on folding tripod stand, 19th Century. Signed on focal tube by prolific telescope make...

Wooden barometer measuring instrument English manufacture made in the mid 19th century, silver-plated brass dial engraved with meteorological indicati...

Plate of the distance of the planets “Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1855 by F.J. Huntington in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for th...

Impressively large bushel measure for the County Of Gloucester, England. Inscribed "Imperial Standard Bushel". "County Of Gloucester". Made by Bate of London. Dated 1853 and 1834. ...

EXCEPTIONAL GOLD RUSH POCKET SCALE WITH GREEN, ENAMELED TIN, GILT EAGLE & LETTERING THAT READS: “MADE EXPRESSLY FOR CALIFORNIA,” circa 1850 “Miners' Improved Gold Scale,” made circ...

English brass and wood barrel nautical ship captain's spyglass with a single draw, polished sunshade, lense cap, and engraved focal tube by maker James Chapman St. Catherines Dock, L...

Wooden barometer with cedar wood trim at the edges, signed Caux Opticien Rue Rivoli près du Louvre Paris, mid-19th century; dial with the meteorological indications on paper printed ...

19th century, chrome steel Austrian balance, by J. Florenz Wien, 11 brass weights, 5 kg. This precious antique table scale was from the famous Caffè Florian in Venice Caffè Florian is a historic café in the city of Venice, located under the arcades of the Procuratie Nuove in Piazza San Marco. It is the oldest Italian coffee and the oldest coffee in the world. It was inaugurated on December 29, 1720 by Floriano Francesconi with the name of Alla Venezia Trionfante, but immediately the Venetians simply said “andemo da Florian-let's go to Florian”, from the name of the owner in the Venetian dialect. Since then it has continued its daily coffee business uninterruptedly to the present day, becoming a favorite destination for Venetians, Italians and foreigners. Floriano Francesconi inspired the character of Ridolfo in Carlo Goldoni's coffee shop. Giacomo Casanova courted the ladies there and Carlo Goldoni entered as a boy. Famous people such as Gasparo Gozzi, Giuseppe Parini, Silvio Pellico, Lord Byron, Ugo...

Vertical mirror galvanometer made in 1850 circa, oak and glass, three adjustable screws at the base. Tool constituted by a magnet bar movable inside a coil and connected to a needle. In the absence of current the needle is positioned vertically while when the coil is crossed by the current it creates a magnetic field that moves the needle. This type of galvanometer was used for measurement of insulation of telegraph cables...

Wooden barometer signed Burlinson Ripon made in the mid 19th century. Silver-plated brass dial engraved with weather indications and the name of the m...

Ships octant from circa 1850 with an engraved scale to 100 degrees. With peepsight, mirrors, colored lenses, etc. Fitted to a step up box. Some old repairs and replacement wood to li...

This carved giltwood barometer is in the form of a military trophy of arms surmounted by a ducal coronet. It comprises a sword hilt, cannon barrels and standards surrounding a portr...