General Information

Serial #

3357

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Sextant- brass; scale of arc a gold insert; glass; wooden handle case - wood (mahogany) with brass hardware

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

25.0 cm

Width

28.0 cm

Height

9.4 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Marine Transportation

Category

Navigation instruments & equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

PORTER

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

London

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Received from Energy, Mines and Resources, the federal government department responsible for surveys -- topographical, geodetic, etc. This particular instrument was acquired for the Hydrogaphic Survey of Can and has their inventory # 9 engraved on it. The case caries a verification tag from the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, England dated May 1913 and stampted with the signature of the head of the lab, R.T. Glazebrook.

Function

A portable instrument designed for the purpose of measuring the angular distance between two objects. This one was used for lhydrographic surveys. It may possibly be associated with William Bayfield, the head of the Hydrogrpaic Survey and responsible for the mid-19th c surveys of the Gt. Lakes. A sextant such as this, with a stand, would also have been taken to land to measure angles between prominent land marks for the surveys.

Technical

This is a high end sextant (8 inch radius) with stand (1974.0109). The scale is machine rulled on platinum and the frame is gold plated. Only high end sextants such as this, were supplied with stands.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Stamped 'HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY NO. 9' (FURTHER INFORMATION COULD BE OBTAINED FROM E.M.R.)/ Attached to lid of case: 'CERTIFICATE OF EXHAMINATION' (BY THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY - DATED MAY 1913)

Missing

Complete

Finish

Brass lacquered (clear) except for part of framework, the shades & horizon glass which have a flat black finish/ case stained, varnished; incl. brass lock with key

Decoration

N/A