Rare Giant Nautical Antique Ships Octant Gold Gilt Fixtures

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About the Item

Presented is the largest octant with an index arm 17 1/2 inches long, that makes it one of the largest instruments of this type known. It has other interesting features which sets it apart from most other Hadley type octants, which include: Wood index arm 22% in-cased in brass, Mahogany frame All the metal work gilted in gold. Unusual vernier with a center index graduated 5 to 10" to right and 15 to 10" to left It is one half inch larger than Hadley's “double reflecting” octant which he submitted to the Royal Society in London in 1731. Shortly thereafter, Hadley began making octants with a vertical dimension of 17 inches. There is no case. There is only a single octant with these features and this size out of numerous included in the epic book, "Sextants at Greenwich", by W.F. J. Morzer Bruyns which catalogs the collection of antique navigation instruments at England's National Maritime Museum. It appears on page 112 under accession number 042 NAV 1306 and was made by Goater, Wappin, London in about 1769. in size. For a photograph of one very similar to this one, see page 46 of Peter Ifland's wonderful book, "Taking the Stars". Compared below in a photograph to an octant of of the same Ca 1795 period with an arc by the famous English iinstrument maker, Jessie Ramsden. Ramsden was the inventor of the dividing machine which made accurate instruments of smaller size possible. The three shade glass assembly is movable for placement at either the index mirror position or below at the secondary position where the third mirror allows for the taking of "back sights". The ivory scale is precisely marked with large size numerals and sharply engraved marks on the arc. The ivory shows little age degradation or discoloring which suggests the instrument was stored away from daylight. This further supports our conclusion that it was made as a presentation piece and has seen little use. It clearly was made by an experienced instrument maker standing at the top of his trade.

Dimensions:
Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)Width: 15.25 in (38.74 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Place of Origin:
United Kingdom
Period:
18th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
Ca 1770
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Palm City, FL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: U120623925791