Accession No

2308

Brief Description

heliostat, attributed to Secretan, French, c. 1850

Origin

France; Paris [based on attributed maker]

Maker

Secretan [attributed]

Class

optical

Earliest Date

1850

Latest Date

1850

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, oxidised brass); glass, wood

Dimensions

box length 394mm; breadth 270mm; height 293mm

Special Collection

Provenance

On loan from King's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England from 06/05/1977.

Inscription

‘MAISON LEREBOURS & SECRETAN.
SECRETAN,
SUCCESSEUR
Opticien de &: M. l’Empereur.
de l’Observatoire & de la Marine.
MAGASINS: 13. PLACE DU PONT-NEUF,
ATELIERS: 73, RUE DU FAUBOURG ST JACQUES.
PARIS’ (label in box)

Description Notes

Silberman heliostat, brass. Circular base pivots in flat tripod stand with 3 levelling screws and clamping screw. Bubble level. Clockword drive in brass casing hanging from two upright supports mounted on base. Setting arc on brass, divided -5 - 110 by 1˚, subdivided to 30´, with vernier and clamping screw. Pillar support rises from clockwork movement, rotates, with clamping circle. Upper (declination) arc divided 25˚ - 0 - 25˚ by 1˚, subdivided to 30´, with vernier and clamping screw, date scale on reverse. No divisions on lower arc, but there is a clamping screw. Circle has time scale divided 0-12-0, subdivided to 5 minutes and marked ‘MIDI’, ‘OUEST’, ‘MINUIT’, ‘EST’.
Fitted wooden box with Secretan trade label.

References

Events