Early American Scientific Instruments and Their MakersBedini, Silvio A.
History
Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers
Bedini, Silvio A.
Scientific apparatus and instruments
mathematical instruments in wood, brass, or ivory, theodolites,
circumferentors, sectors, parallel rules, protractors, plain
scales, and dividers, the late instrument called an Octant, Davis'
quadrants, gauging rods, sliding and gunter's scales, amplitude
wood box and hanging and pocket compasses, surveying chains,
japanned telescopes, dice and dice boxes, mariners compasses and
kalenders, etc.[72]
Ham subsequently moved his business to Philadelphia where he first
advertised in 1764, stating that he worked at the sign of "Hadley's
Quadrant" at Front and Water Streets in Philadelphia and sold all forms
of instruments in silver, brass, and ivory as well as "large brass
pocket dials, fitted to the latitude of Philadelphia." In 1780 his son
James Ham, Jr., advertised from the same address as a maker of
mathematical instruments, specializing in "Hadley and Davis
Quadrants."[73]
The second exception is William Hinton, who advertised in _The New York
Gazette and the Weekly Mercury_ of May 4, 1772, as follows:
WILLIAM HINTON, Mathematical Instrument Maker, at Hadley's
Quadrant, facing the East Side of the New Coffee House, Makes and
sells all sorts of Mathematical Instruments, in Silver, Brass,
Ivory or Wood, viz. Hadley's Quadrants, Davis's do. Crostaf's
Nocturnals, Gunters Scales, Plotting do. Cases of Instruments,
Surveyors Chains, Dividers with and without Points, Protractors,
paralelled Rulers, Rods for Guaging, Amplitude, hanging and common
Wood Compasses, Pocket do. three Foot Telescopes, Pocket do.
Backgammon Tables, Dice and Dice Boxes, Billiard Balls and Tacks,
Violin Bows and Bridges; with a Variety of other Articles too
tedious to mention: And as he is a young Beginner, he flatters
himself, he shall meet with Encouragement; and all those who please
to favour him with their Custom, may depend upon having their Work
done in the neatest and best Manner, and at reasonable Rates.
It is mentioned that both Ham and Hinton worked in wood in addition to
other materials, but it appears very likely that the use of wood
referred specifically to those instruments normally made of wood, such
as quadrants and octants, and not to other instruments.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account