| National Museum of American History

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Description:

Orrery with a mahogany base and and three short legs. The top is painted light blue. The inscription on a brass disc in the center reads “GEORGE PHILIP & SON LTD 32 FLEET ST LONDON E.C. MADE IN ENGLAND.” The Sun and the planets are represented by painted wooden spheres. Earth is covered by paper map gores. Mercury, Venus and Earth, are driven by an open-geared mechanism mounted on top of the center spindle column. The five distant planets have support arms from this center spindle. The drive mechanism is below the table. All moons have wire supports and are moved by hand.

George Philip (1800-1882) was a cartographer and mapmaker who began in business in Liverpool in 1834. His son George (1823-1902) joined the firm in 1848. George Philip & Son, Ltd., later moved to London.

Date Made: 1850-1900

Maker: George Philip & Son

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United Kingdom: England, London

Subject: Astronomy

Subject:

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

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Baldwin-Wallace College

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1985.0386.01Accession Number: 1985.0386Catalog Number: 1985.0386.01

Object Name: orrery

Physical Description: wood (overall material)Measurements: overall: 20 in; 50.8 cmoverall: orrery: 18 1/4 in x 30 1/2 in x 19 1/2 in; 46.355 cm x 77.47 cm x 49.53 cmoverall: planet attachment: 8 1/4 in x 27 1/2 in x 7/8 in; 20.955 cm x 69.85 cm x 2.2225 cmoverall: planet attachment with moons: 8 in x 24 1/4 in x 7/8 in; 20.32 cm x 61.595 cm x 2.2225 cm

Metadata Usage: CC0

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-df0a-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1446225

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