Ware Solar Compass

Description:

Patent model for Ralph Reeder, "Mariner's Time Compass," U.S. Patent #4,964 (1847). The inscription reads: "Ralph Reeder Patentee, Cincinnati, Ohio. HENRY WARE, MAKER, CINCINNATI, O." Henry Ware (1810-1885) was a leading instrument maker in Cincinnati.

Scientific American reported that this instrument combines "three important uses." It shows "the local variation of the magnetic needle with unerring certainty," "the altitude of the sun, and thus enables the mariner readily to compute latitude." and "the true time" and thus "by the aid of the chronometer, shows the longitude." Despite journal's opinion that Reeder’s instrument "appears to be a practically useful invention," the Mariner’s Time-Compass was not a commercial success.

Ref: "Improved Nautical Instrument," Scientific American 12 (1856): 4.

Date Made: 1840s

Maker: Henry Ware

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Ohio, Cincinnati

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences, Navigation, Measuring & Mapping

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: PH.309345Catalog Number: 309345Accession Number: 89797Patent Number: 4,964

Object Name: Nautical CompassObject Type: Patent Model

Measurements: overall: 15 in x 8 in; 38.1 cm x 20.32 cmoverall: 16 in x 9 in; 40.64 cm x 22.86 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-16ec-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1167860

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.