Accession No
3193
Brief Description
circumferentor, by Benjamin Pike, U.S.A., 1835 (c)
Origin
U.S.A.; New York; 166 Broad Way
Maker
Pike, Benjamin
Class
surveying
Earliest Date
1835
Latest Date
1835
Inscription Date
Material
metal (brass, silver, steel)
Dimensions
length 367mm; breadth 152mm; height 173mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from The Antiquarian Scientist, Draut, Mass., USA; Catalogue, 16/01/1985.
Inscription
‘Benj. Pike 166 Broad Way New York’ (on compass rose0
Description Notes
Brass; silvered compass rose with 8 cardinal points and fleur-de-lis north; blued steel needle with clamp below box; divided on a raised scale 0-90-0 twice by 10 to 30’; sights on the ends of the limbs, slit and pin hole type; 2 bubble levels with mutually perpendicular axes.
References
Events
Description
The circumferentor is an instrument that derives from the reverse side of an astrolabe. It is used to measure horizontal angles, or vertical angles by suspending the instrument from its shackle.
The circumferentor was described by Arthur Hopton in 1611, though passing references had been made to it in earlier works. It became one of the standard pieces of equipment of the surveyor throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
31/08/2006
Created by: updated by Ruth Horry on 31/08/2006
FM:43474
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