Accession No
0618
Brief Description
level for surveying, by Thomas Wright, English, 1724
Origin
England; London; Fleet St; 'Orrery and Globe'
Maker
Wright, Thomas
Class
surveying
Earliest Date
1724
Latest Date
1724
Inscription Date
1724
Material
metal (brass); glass
Dimensions
length 430mm; breadth 60mm; height 155mm box length 451mm; breadth 166mm; height 75mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Purchased by Robert Stewart Whipple from W. Mortimer, Nailswoth, Gloucestershire, England, with the help of H.A. Randal on 23/06/1930. Previously belonged to Dr Mason of Painswick, Gloucestershire, England.
Inscription
on the parallel arm
Made by Tho Wright Instrument Maker to the PRINCE of Wales
Description Notes
Brass level for surveying made by Thomas Wright in 1724. Brass throughout in two parts. Part one the telescope. Sliding lens cover over eyepiece and objective. Cross hairs. Sliding focus moving objective. Bubble mounted on arm parallel to telescope. Bubble tube decoratively pierced to reveal red glass. Decorative finials on bubble tube. Inclination scale mounted on parallel arm and telescope support. Graduated 0-10. Clamp and elevation motion screw. Tubular tripod support with threaded hole for clamp (screw missing).
Base plate fits into tubular support on level. Screw holes.
References
Events
Description
In November 1944, R.S. Whipple’s donation to the University of Cambridge was put on show in the East Rooms of the Old Schools. The University accepted the donation on the condition that they found a new institution within which to house the collection.
Whipple himself wrote a guidebook to this exhibition, describing some of the more important objects and books on show. The front cover includes the following declaration: “The Exhibits are drawn from the Collection which Mr R.S. Whipple is presenting to the University and will form a nucleus for a History of Science Museum and Library in Cambridge.”
Whipple's explanatory text for this object was:
"Surveying level. This level marked 'Made by Tho. Wright, Instrument Maker to the Prince of Wales, 1724' is worthy of notice, both because of its workmanship and the fact that it was still in use in 1930."
17/10/2025
Created by: Hannah Price on 17/10/2025
FM:42896
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