~FINE 6 INCH FOLDING ARM, GEARED PROTRACTOR-GILKERSON & McCALL, LONDON~

~FINE 6 INCH FOLDING ARM, GEARED PROTRACTOR-GILKERSON & McCALL, LONDON~

$995 USD (750 GBP)

A fine 18th century geared, circular protractor with folding arms-unusual size and signature

Dimensions

18 x 17.5 x 3.5 cm. deep ( 7 1/4 x 7 x 1 1/2 inches)

Circa

1780

Maker

Gilkerson and McCall

Country of manufacture

UK and Ireland

Categories: Calculating, Drawing Instruments, Engineering antiques, Office Antiques, Tools

Description

A fine 6 inch (15 cm.)  geared, circular, folding arm protractor by Gilkerson and McCall, Tower Hill, London c.1770.

Everything intact and never touched (was stuck in the kidney shaped case for 250 years). The brass roping (knurling) is magnificent.

Unusual  signature (McCall/MacAll is misspelled as McAll). Everything is as it should be (all screws present). Geared and silvered (oxidised) 360 degree circle delineated to one half degree, folding arms with pins intact, glass window with etched “cross hairs” and flawless operation. The kidney shaped (winged), mahogany case has both hinges and eared, C-shaped hooks intact (the case has two scratches to the lid) and has three steel bun feet on the bottom. 

James Gilkerson had many business name changes/partners over the span of his life but his time with John McCall was the longest (1770-1790). The engraver was in error as to spelling of the name from what I can glean from the records. A very fine and unusually pretty instrument of the best machining I have seen in 40 years. A rarity.

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CA ScientificaOpticae

Scientifica Opticae

Mark Hacking (Scientifica Opticae Inc.) has been an avid collector/dealer for over 40 years. A former Science teacher, he has an innate love for anything natural or mechanical. Specializing in optical (microscopes, telescopes), surveying, medical, weighing and drawing instruments, he is an active participant of the Scientific Instrument Fair in London. Living in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and two children; Mark looks forward to meeting as many fellow collectors as possible, and has a worldwide following on eBay (Sciopti). As of Nov. 1/24 my email has changed to either [email protected] or [email protected].

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