This Fine Octant Has Been Sold. Thank You!   EARLY COOK & SON  OCTANT Ca 1820 PRESENTED is a late 18th C. mariner's sextant with ebony frame. ivory graduated arc and vernier, and bronze fittings. The arc measures from - 5 to plus 100 degrees. On the ivory plate on the cross bar is inscribed, "*Cook & Son*London*". Of the many Cooks listed in Webster's database of instrument makers, this is surely made by William and George who had their shop at 178 Shadwell High Street, London.   On the lower arc, in its center of the ivory degree's scale at 50 degrees is inscribed the flukes of an acnchor which may very well be the mark of Jesse Ramsden, the inventor of the dividing machine. Ramsden, was noted for the quality of his work and engraved scales for other makers. tifying this instrument as that of Spencer Browning & Rust, of London.   This beautifully made instrument has a brass index arm measuring a huge 13 7/8 inches long, beyond average making this a very early example. The top horizon mirror is mounted on an adjustable turntable. The base can be rotated by loosening a screw which locks the mirror's position. The lower mirror and peep sight are used for taking back sights, and were only fitted to very early octants. Note the early form ivory vernier scale, reading from right to left from 0 to 20 arc minutes, a two hole peep sight with "flap" for the horizon mirror plus a single peep sight for the backsight mirror, and moveable three sun shade which serve both mirrors on the frame. All of these features date the instrument shortly after the turn of the 18th century, likely Ca 1820. See Peter Ifland's comprehensive sextant work, "Taking the Stars". particularly figure 64, page 57.   Some time after 1780, the addition of a tangent screw, not on this instrument, allowed for fine adjustment and represented one of the two major changes in the basic operation of the octants and sextants for the next 150 years! The second was the fitting of telescopes. As was the practice with octant's of this larger size, only peep sights were fitted. Later a handle was added. All of these tell tales indicate it is one of the earliest of that type made by Cook & Son making it a noteworthy instrument by this maker.        Provison for 3 Mirrors         Old Style Vernier CONDITION: The instrument, its ivory name and graduated arc, and its hardware, except for a broken tangent screw and replaced vernier scale are in outstnding condition, with a wonderful patina of age. All three bronze legs are present. Missing only is a small ivory scribe. The three mirrors show wear and age as would be expected with the passing of over 200 years. If desired, resilvering is inexpensive and available through most mirror shops. There is no case. All in all, a highly desirable and worthwhile example from one of the better known English instrument makers. DIMENSIONS:  Arc reads - 5 to + 100 degrees Length of frame 13 7/8"  long Width of frame at arc 11 1/4" wide Index mirror 54 x 31 mm Horizon mirror -   24 x 24 mm Back sight Mirror 24 x 24 mm Three shade glasses Two Peep sights Weight    2 Lbs 12 oz CREDENTIALS: We are one of the few people on the web selling navigation instruments that know anything about them. For purposes of judging whether my opinion counts, I was the editor of the chapter on sextants of the 1977 Edition of "Bowditch", The American Practical Navigator, NAVPUB 9; a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Navigation Symposium Board, 1975-1978; the author of a book on marine sextants, Cornell Maritime Press,1975, and the founding president of Nautech Maritime Corporation which partnered with Tamaya of Japan in the introduction of the MS 733 Spica, the MS 833, Jupiter, MS 933 Venus sextants and the famous NC-2 navigation computer, in the U.S. market. I  am also a retired Master Mariner, and held a U.S. Navy "D" Qualification as a Senior Skipper - Oceans OUR UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within five days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Returns must be insured for their full value. All that is required is a prior email authorization by us for the return. Unfortunately, no refund can be made for the cost of shipping, packaging and handling. International buyers welcome, but inquire first.  We have satisfied customers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean. SHIPPING & PACKING: The cost of shipping, packing, handling, and insurance to your destination, is an additional charge. You may email us beforehand to get these costs. We price our shipping honestly, but we expect to be reimbursed for the nominal cost of packaging materials and handling. Buy this very special article of maritime history Now!   What a great find for that special person who can appreciate only the finest and most unusual. Copyright 2006 by Land And Sea Collection.com, All Rights Reserved Both these Fine Octants Have Been Sold, Thank You!   FINE QUALITY EARLY SPENCER~BROWNING & RUST  OCTANT Ca 1775

PRESENTED is a superior late 18th C. mariner's sextant with ebony frame. ivory graduated arc and vernier, and bronze fittings. The arc measures from - 5 to plus 95 degrees. In the center of the ivory degree's scale between 45 and 50  degrees is inscribed in script "SBR" identifying this instrument as that of Spencer Browning & Rust, of London. Regrettably, the name plate on the crossbar has been replaced with an unmarked slug. An interesting label from John H. Wheeler, 220 Water St., New York has some indistinct hand writing which includes what may be a date of 1827. That would be when the octant was last adjusted by an instrument shop. Wheeler operated as a nautical instrument maker in New York for only brief period from 1825 to 1836 according to Webster's Registry.

 

This beautifully made instrument has a brass index arm measuring a huge 16 inches long, not counting the tab, way beyond average making this a very early example. The top horizon mirror which mounted on an adjustable turntable is missing. The base can be rotated by loosening a screw which locks the mirror's position. The lower mirror and peep sight are used for taking back sights, and were only fitted to very early octants. Note the early form ivory vernier scale, reading from right to left from 0 to 20 arc minutes, a two hole peep sight with "flap" for the horizon mirror plus a single peep sight for the backsight mirror, and moveable three sun shade which serve both mirrors on the frame. There is no tangent screw on early instruments only a clamp. All of these features date the instrument before the turn of the 18th century, likely Ca 1775. See Peter Ifland's comprehensive sextant work, "Taking the Stars". particularly figure 64, page 57.

 

Some time after 1780, the addition of a tangent screw, not on this instrument, allowed for fine adjustment and represented one of the two major changes in the basic operation of the octants and sextants for the next 150 years! The second was the fitting of telescopes. As was the practice with octant's of this larger size, only peep sights were fitted. Later a handle was added. All of these tell tales indicate it is one of the earliest of that type made by Spencer Browning making it a noteworthy instrument by this maker.

Provison for 3 Mirrors

Old Style Vernier

Keystone Stepped Case

CONDITION: The instrument, its ivory name and graduated arc, and its hardware are all in remarkably good condition, with a nice patina of age and the octant is in exceptional quality overall. All three bronze legs are present. Missing is a small ivory scribe, and inlaid ivory plate on from the crossbar. The horizon mirror is missing. The two other mirrors show wear and age as would be expected with the passing of over 200 years. If desired, resilvering is inexpensive and available through most mirror shops. The stepped keystone case has some minor nick, dents, and an age crack. An eye ring for the latch is missing. All in all, a highly desirable and worthwhile example from one of the better known English instrument makers. DIMENSIONS:  Arc reads - 5 to +95 degrees Length of frame 16"  exceptionally long Width of frame at arc 13" exceptionally wide Index mirror 50 x 31 mm Horizon mirror - missing Back sight Mirror 24 x 24 mm Three shade glasses Two Peep sights Weight    2 Lbs 12 oz CREDENTIALS: We are one of the few people on the web selling navigation instruments that know anything about them. For purposes of judging whether my opinion counts, I was the editor of the chapter on sextants of the 1977 Edition of "Bowditch", The American Practical Navigator, NAVPUB 9; a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Navigation Symposium Board, 1975-1978; the author of a book on marine sextants, Cornell Maritime Press,1975, and the founding president of Nautech Maritime Corporation which partnered with Tamaya of Japan in the introduction of the MS 733 Spica, the MS 833, Jupiter, MS 933 Venus sextants and the famous NC-2 navigation computer, in the U.S. market. I  am also a retired Master Mariner, and held a U.S. Navy "D" Qualification as a Senior Skipper - Oceans OUR UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Returns must be insured for their full value. All that is required is a prior email authorization by us for the return. Unfortunately, no refund can be made for the cost of shipping, packaging and handling. International buyers welcome, but inquire first.  We have satisfied customers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean. Buy this very special article of maritime history Now!   What a great find for that special person who can appreciate only the finest and most unusual. Copyright 2005 by Land And Sea Collection, All Rights Reserved

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