Solar Compass

Solar Compass

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Description
This solar compass belonged to the U. S. Geological Survey, a federal agency that was established in 1879. It was made around 1880, and transferred to the Smithsonian in 1920. The horizontal circle is silvered, graduated to 30 minutes, and read by opposite verniers to single minutes. The inscription reads "W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy, N.Y." The auxiliary telescope, which attaches to either sight vane, is marked "PAT. JULY 9, 1878," and is described by the patent (#205,712) that was granted to William and Lewis E. Gurley in 1878.
Ref: W. & L. E. Gurley, Manual of the Principal Instruments used in American Engineering and Surveying (Troy, N. Y., 1878), p. 70.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Solar Compass
date made
ca 1880
maker
W. & L. E. Gurley
place made
United States: New York, Troy
Measurements
overall length: 15 in; 38.1 cm
telescope: 8 1/2 in; 21.59 cm
overall: 12 15/16 in x 18 1/2 in x 6 1/2 in; 32.86125 cm x 46.99 cm x 16.51 cm
ID Number
PH.307086
catalog number
307086
accession number
65070
Credit Line
U.S. Geological Survey
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
Surveying and Geodesy
Measuring & Mapping
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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