Accession No
0490
Brief Description
pedometer, by Payne and Company, English, 1850 (c)
Origin
165 New Bond Street; London; England
Maker
Payne and Company
Class
surveying
Earliest Date
1831
Latest Date
1850
Inscription Date
Material
metal (brass, steel); glass; enamel
Dimensions
length 65mm; breadth (diameter) 43mm; thickness 10mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Purchased from T.H. Court on 28/05/1927. “T.H.C. states ‘Rare’” (accession register)
Inscription
‘PAYNE & CO. 165 NEW BOND ST.
3448
PATENT’ (on face)
Description Notes
White enamel face with scale divided I - XII subdivided to 1/4. Single blued steel pointer. Brass case. Hinged glazed lid and hinged face giving access to patent Payne movement (horizontal anchor pendulum, control spring, ratchet wheel controlled by spring pall fixed at other end to pendulum. Counter-spring pall opposing thrust. Adjustment thread.
Complete
References
Events
Description
The movement in the pedometer was patented in 1831 and is still used in modern examples. Each step taken by the wearer is sufficient to make the anchor-shaped pendulum oscillate; a system of springs and ratchers damp down the movement and turn the hand. Adjustments can be made for the length of the wearer’s stride, and up to 12 miles can be measured.
FM:39605
Images (Click to view full size):
