CASED c1840 TROUGHTON & SIMMS-LONDON Pkt Folding Sundial SUN DIAL-1 5/8" Compass

Description: LEATHER & PLUSH SILK LINED CASED MINIATURE c1840 TROUGHTON & SIMMS - LONDON FOLDING POCKET BRASS SUNDIAL SUN DIAL W/ 1 5/8" COMPASS FACE As can be seen, this offering comprises a fine quaint sized cased FOLDING POCKET SUN DIAL by Troughton & Simms of LONDON; a company of which enjoyed great respect for producing some of the finest navigational and dialing related scientific instruments in the 19th Century. The instrument measures as follows; 1.) Dial face measures 1 5/8" diameter 2.) The gnome from crossbar up is 1 5/8" high 3.) Over-all height in upright position is 2 1/4" TALL 4.) Over-all width is 2 5/8" at widest point ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ GENERAL TIMELINE Troughton & Simms was a British scientific instrument firm. It was formed when Edward Troughton in his old age took on William Simms as a partner in 1826. It became a limited company in 1915[1] and in 1922 it merged with T. Cooke & Sons to form Cooke, Troughton & Simms. The firm had its origins in the instrument-making business begun in 1764 by John Troughton (1716-1788). This business was successively passed down first to nephews, John Troughton (1739-1807) and then to Edward Troughton (1756-1835). In 1826 Edward Troughton took on William Simms as partner. ORIGIN DETAILS In 1756, John Troughton Senior from Corney, Cumberland, set up business in London, having completed his apprenticeship with London instrument maker Thomas Heath. In 1769, his nephew John Troughton Junior, after completing his apprenticeship with his uncle, set up in business for himself. He took over the business of Benjamin Cole in 1782, a maker of orreries at a shop in Fleet Street called "At the Sign of The Orrery". His work at that time was mostly providing a service to other craftsmen in the difficult skill of dividing circles by hand for navigation, surveying and astronomical instruments. In 1789, he took his brother Edward Troughton into partnership. The Board of Longitude was wound up in 1828, but the Board of Ordnance (now Ordnance Survey) started work on the Triangulation of Britain in 1791. This was reflected in the change in Troughton's work away from astronomical and navigational towards terrestrial surveying. William Simms completed his goldsmithing apprenticeship in 1815 and set up business as a maker of marine compasses. In about 1825, he was asked to repair and re-divide an astronomical circle made by Troughton. Having completed this work, he wrote a paper for Edward Troughton describing his new method of dividing which was more accurate than an engine and quicker than using a roller. Edward Troughton took on William Simms as a partner in 1826. Notable Troughton instruments from this period include the Equatorial telescope at Armagh Observatory (1795), the Mural circle at Greenwich Royal Observatory (1812), and the Transit telescope at Greenwich Royal Observatory (1816). TROUGHTON & SIMMS DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION In 1828, George Everest returned from India and asked Simms to repair instruments used for the Survey of India. To try to make his theodolites less susceptible to field conditions Everest proposed a new pattern with a lower centre of gravity. In 1834, the Houses of Parliament burned down so a new set of national standards of length were commissioned. In 1835 George Airy became Astronomer Royal and commissioned new instruments. Large castings were contracted to Maudslay and Ransomes. Optical parts were often supplied by Dollond. From about 1830 to 1850 Britain was gripped by Railway Mania resulting in high demand for levels and theodolites. Troughton & Simms exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851.[6] William Simms died in 1860 and the firm took William Simms Junior and his cousin James into partnership. Optical glass technology allowed larger lenses to be made and these were sourced from French and German makers such as Guinand and Merz. In 1866, a transit and spectroscope were ordered by Harvard College Observatory and delivered in 1870. Slow delivery appears to have happened a lot and seems to have been partly due to insistence on precision but also the volume of business being undertaken. In 1860, Troughton & Simms opened a new works at Charlton. There were many requests from around the world for standard measure bars, and in 1876, they supplied the Imperial Standards Of Length gauges mounted at Trafalgar Square and the Greenwich Royal Observatory. The firm produced hundreds of astronomical instruments such as mural circles, transit circles, sextants, and other astronomical instruments for observatories around the world. Towards the end of this period other countries such as France, Germany and the United States were able to make instruments themselves so Troughton & Simms made more of their product for the British market. Notable instruments from this period include the Troughton & Simms Altazimuth Refractor (1847) at Greenwich Royal Observatory and the Troughton & Simms Astronomical Telescope (1880) for Tokyo Astronomical Observatory. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In excellent condition w/ 98% original lacquer present. Compass needle riser works seamlessly. Dial arc support is silvered on both sides and shows some wear and silver loss on the inside of the arm. The arm itself down near the hinges exhibits a number "3" - which is either a serial number or an assembly number. AS SHOWN ABOVE - SOLD "AS-IS." NO RETURNS. ASK ALL QUESTIONS BEFORE EXECUTING A "BUY IT NOW." Wear and scratches to finish is consistent with age and use. Please see all photos, as they are part of the description. Leather carry case has both original latches present. There is general wear to inner red silk lining and wear to outer leather as shown. .ASK ALL QUESTIONS BEFORE ENACTING A "BUY IT NOW." SHIPPING w/ DELIVERY CONF. & INSURANCE is $35.00 and INCLUDES EBAY SELLER'S 13.35 % SHIPPING SURCHARGE and 13.35% SALES TAX SURCHARGE eBay sellers must pay. Careful packing. WE DO NOT SHIP BY UPS as they rip open boxes insured at $100 or more seeking to deny shipments containing antiques. ALL SHIPMENTS NORMALLY MADE THROUGH USPS - BUT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEND BY FEDERAL EXPRESS GROUND INSURED. OVERSEAS SALES pay $55.00 for REGISTERED AIRPOST for safe signatured delivery and easy Customs clearance. GA STATE residents or out of state must pay 8% STATE SALES TAX. GOOD LUCK! WE COMBINE SHIPPING!

Price: 2147 USD

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

End Time: 2024-04-24T03:24:51.000Z

Shipping Cost: 35 USD