North America Archives - Page 10 of 14

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THE PATENTED BIASCOPE, American (Rochester, N.Y.), c. early 20th century, by Wollensak. Measuring 3-3/4″ wide, these pocket binoculars have 6x magnification, with communal focusing by central lever. Fine with light wear. Read More...

12 Nov

CENCO’S LECTURE TABLE GALVANOMETER

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CENCO’S LECTURE TABLE GALVANOMETER, American, c. 1930, signed “Central Scientific Co., Chicago.” Standing 14-1/2″ (37 cm) tall overall, with a circular wood base, three leveling screws, and a glass dome, the galvanometer has a permanent magnet (with patented rotation about the vertical axis for zero correction), a suspended copper wire coil attached to the double needle, and a double readout scale (front and back, for visibility from both sides). In Cenco’s catalogue we find that a deflection of one Read More...

12 Nov

FIRST FORM OF WEBB’S ADDER

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FIRST FORM OF WEBB’S ADDER, American, c.1875, signed “C.H. Webb, N.Y., ‘The Adder,’ Patd. March 10th, 1868,” #C671. Made of sheet brass on mahogany, 6-3/4″ (17 cm) overall, this is the uncommonly found early form of Webb’s “two-wheeled velocipede of figures.” Described in detail by Kidwell in Rittenhouse (1, 12), it was succeeded by Webb’s popular all-metal version. This is a good example of this American calculating instrument, in fine condition, with photocopies of Webb’s instructions and glorious testimonials. The Read More...

01 Nov

LARGE EARLY OCTANT WITH SOLID BOXWOOD SCALE ARM

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LARGE EARLY OCTANT WITH SOLID BOXWOOD SCALE ARM, American or English, c.1750-1760. Framed in mahogany (or rosewood), with boxwood scale arm 1/2″ thick, the octant measures 20″ (51 cm) overall. It is equipped with wooden index arm ending in brass “line of faith” reading against transversal scale, and inset blank name plate of boxwood. There are two mirrors, set of three filters (one cracked) interchangeable between horizon and index positions, double peep with pivoting cover, and remains of the Read More...

22 Oct

DRS. BLACK’S CANADIAN / AMERICAN CUPPING APPARATUS

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DRS. BLACK’S CANADIAN / AMERICAN CUPPING APPARATUS, c. 1895. The 10″ (25 cm) long fitted walnut case contains a gutta percha hand piston pump and two screw-on molded glass bleeding cups with gutta percha fittings. The large printed trade label in the case identifies the inventors as Drs. W.S. & F. Black, and the maker as Wm. B. Stewart of Box 646, Trenton, N.J. Condition is fine but some accessories are lacking. It appears that Fergus Black, resident of Read More...

17 Oct

MILLARD’S FACE MEASURE FOR PRECISION EYEGLASS FITTING

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MILLARD’S FACE MEASURE, American, c. 1920, bearing 1903 and 1918 patent dates. Made of plated brass, 6-3/4″ (17 cm) long, this is a combination linear rule, caliper and angle measure. Invented by Samuel B. Millard of New Orleans, Louisiana, its serves to measure interpupilary distance, as well as the width of the bridge of the nose, the distance between the back of the ear (or the bridge of the nose) and the eyelashes, the length of the temple, the Read More...

17 Oct

SET OF THIRTEEN WORLD WAR I STEREO VIEWERS

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SET OF THIRTEEN WORLD WAR I STEREO VIEWERS, American, 1919, by Charles T. Buell & Co. Each fixed-focus viewer is 4-1/2″ x 4-3/8″ x 2″ (11 x 11 x 5 cm) overall, with its rectangular varnished wood box, turned and blackened wood eyepiece surrounds, ground glass window, original insertable glass stereo view, brass latch, and printed descriptive card tacked atop. The views show scenes of loss in the trenches and fields of France, cemeteries there, etc. The descriptions are Read More...

12 Oct

U.S. NAVY TELESCOPIC STADIMETER

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U.S. NAVY TELESCOPIC STADIMETER, American, c. 1942, signed on plaques “Schick, Inc., Stamford, Conn.” and “U.S. Navy-Bu. Ships, #2244 – 1942,” and “Repaired by Boston Naval Shipyard.” This elaborate distance measuring device, 10-3/4″ (27 cm) overall, is made of brass with black crinkle, clear lacquer, and plated finishes, with a shaped mahogany handle. It works something like a sextant but limited to small angular separations, and with readout directly in distance rather than in angle. One sets the size Read More...

05 Oct

GOOD AMERICAN SEXTANT OUTFIT

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GOOD AMERICAN SEXTANT OUTFIT, c, 1850, signed on the arc “E. & G.W. Blunt, New York.” With its sturdy 1/2″ thick lattice frame, the sextant measures 11″ (28 cm) across at its widest point, and has a 9-1/4″ (23 cm) long index arm. Constructed of blackened brass, it is fitted with shaped mahogany handle, three shaped brass legs, two mirrors, seven swing-away filters, index arm clamp and long tangent screw, scale diffuser, swing-away scale magnifier, and adjustable telescope mount. Read More...

23 Sep

LIGHTNING PROTECTION ON THE WATER

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LIGHTNING PROTECTION ON THE WATER, American, 1858, signed “Roswell W. Haskins, Buffalo, N.Y.,” comprising the original model submitted to the U.S. Patent Office, as part of the application resulting in the granting of patent 20877, issued 13 July 1858. The model is made of wood, painted, and clad with brass sheeting in various places inside and out. Measuring 12″ x 8-1/4″ x 5″ (30 x 21 x 13 cm), it is in the form of the stern portion of Read More...

21 Sep

CRAIG-FORM HIGH POWER MICROSCOPE

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CRAIG-FORM HIGH POWER MICROSCOPE, American, c. 1870. This 4-1/2″ (11 cm) tall white metal microscope is a vertical drum form with articulated plane mirror. But unlike the typical compound drum form, here a special high power lens is mounted at the top, and the specimen slide is mounted immediately below. Condition is fine. In 1862 Craig received patent #34,409 for his simple microscope comprising a high power lens mounted just above the specimen slide slot, atop a vertical cylinder housing Read More...

31 Aug

DOUBLE SIDED OPTOMETRIST’S TRADE SIGN

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DOUBLE SIDED OPTOMETRIST’S TRADE SIGN, American, early 20th century, lettered “Dr. Jerome Hoyt, Optometrist” on both sides in gold on black sand. With its rectangular wooden frame, it measures 43″ x 12-1/2″ x 1-5/8″ (109 x 32 x 4 cm) overall, and is fitted with two large iron eyes for hanging. In good condition throughout, this is a fine example of the kind of trade sign hung along the streets of late 19th / early 20th century American cities. The Read More...