Fine Example Of A Turn Of The Century Sextant/Quintant

This Fine Item Has Been Sold! Thank you!

FINE EXAMPLE OF

A TURN OF THE CENTURY

SEXTANT/QUINTANT

Attributed to Frodsham & Keen

Presented is an antique quintant, meaning a sextant having a range of 144°, or an arc of 72°. We are attributing it to Frodsham and Keen of Liverpool, England, around the Turn of the 20th Century.
There is a completely identical instrument by this constructor shown in”Sextants At Greenwich” from the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England. This fine instrument has a rare three circle frame. In fact, this is only the fourth of this type that we’ve been able to offer for sale, making it ideal for the serious collector or as a presentation gift. It comes with a brightly finished star scope, a collimation scope and a sighting tube for shooting terrestrial objects, as shown housed in the case pictured below and in the gallery.

Front Back

QUINTANT / SEXTANT:
Star scope, Collimation scope, Sighting tube

Length of index arm 9 1/4″

Width of arc 10 1/2″

Diameter 1 circle 2 1/2″ ID Index
Mirror 47 mm x 30 mm

Horizon Mirror 32 mm x 22 mm

SEXTANT WEIGHT 3 lbs 9 o

View of the Index and Horizon Mirrors, and six shades

Detail Side View of the Sextant

CONDITION:
Except for a few minor faults, the quintant is in exceptionally fine condition having about ninety five percent of its black finish remaining.. The most prominent is on the index arm and it was made from the larger diameter telescope. It shows very little corrosion of its bronze parts and elsewhere it is in like new condition. The horizon mirror shows very minor discoloration. The shades are all in perfect condition. The tangent screw shaft is tight and not easily turned. The ebony handle provides a nice contrast to the metal work. The instrument certificate reads “National Physical Laboratory” Kew Observatory, Richmond, Surrey. It is dated 1906.

The bronze arc is calibrated -5 to 140+ degrees with a vernier that reads from the right, from 0 to 10 seconds of arc. The sextant has four index shades and three horizon shades.

The instrument is housed in a fitted wood carrying case with brass hardware.The case is in excellent strong condition with a nicely aged finish.. Expect to find evidence of use at sea in the form of scratches, small chips and age cracks mentioned only to be complete.This is a very fine example of the Sextants/Quintants of the period. It will make an excellent addition to an important collection or as a gift of importance.

Inside of the hardwood case
Wood Case
SPECIFICATIONS:CASE 10 3/4″ x 10″ L x 5 1/4″ W

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