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Subject: Ebony and Ivory Octant
From: Chuck Taylor (ctaylor@XXX.XXX)
Date: Mon Feb 11 2002 - 11:23:54 EST
In an antique store yesterday I noticed an old octant. The frame, limb, and
index arm were made of ebony, and the scales were ivory. The clamp screw and
various other parts were brass. The dealer guessed it was from the late 19th
century.
The eyepiece was brass, with two peepholes, one for the horizon and one for the
mirror. There were filters for the index mirror, but not for the horizon.
There was no handle per se, but near the top of the front of the frame there was
a brass piece with indentations for the fingers. There were "feet" of ebony for
setting the octant on a flat surface.
The limb was calibrated to whole degrees and 20-minute fractions of a degree.
The vernier scale had 20 divisions, so the instrument could be read to the
nearest whole minute.
The mirrors could use re-silvering, but otherwise it appeared to be functional.
The wooden case had been repaired.
Asking price was US$795. I passed, but I did buy a handheld pelorus, plastic
case with painted aluminum face, but functional. It will be useful for making
deviation tables as well as for taking visual fixes.
Chuck Taylor
Seascape GB 32-2
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