Sextant
Sextant
Previous
Next
Usage conditions apply
- Description
- This sextant is somewhat unusual in that it has a brass frame, reinforced brass index arm, and ivory (rather than metal) scale. This scale is graduated every 20 minutes from -5° to +125° and read by vernier with tangent screw and swinging magnifier to 30 seconds of arc. The "Spencer Browning & Co., London" inscription on the arc refers to a firm that was in business from 1840 to 1870.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- sextant
- date made
- 1840-1870
- maker
- Spencer, Browning & Co.
- place made
- United Kingdom: England, London
- Physical Description
- ivory (overall material)
- brass (overall material)
- mahogany (overall material)
- glass (overall material)
- Measurements
- radius: 7 1/2 in; 19.05 cm
- overall: 4 7/8 in x 11 1/2 in x 11 1/4 in; 12.3825 cm x 29.21 cm x 28.575 cm
- ID Number
- 1981.0942.01
- catalog number
- 1981.0942.01
- accession number
- 1981.0942
- Credit Line
- George T. Blair
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
- Measuring & Mapping
- Navigation
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
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.
