8280

Glasgow, Circa 1900

LORD KELVIN'S ADJUSTABLE MAGNETIC DEFLECTOR BY J. WHITE

Signed and inscribed on the frame "Sir William Thomson's PATENT No. 167" and "J. White Glasgow". Calibrated scissors jack rises above the three-legged leveling base with slots for the magnetic iron bars. When placed on top of an Admiralty compass, the instrument acts as a jointed horseshoe magnet, adjustable in magnetic moment, and permits determination of the uncorrected compass error that arises on iron ships without recourse to celestial sightings. Original mahogany box.
Height 2.5". Length: 6". Box height 4.75". Width 7.5". Depth 3.25".
Condition: The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction. 

  • Provenance: Provenance
    Tesseract, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, 2005.
    The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts.

    Notes:
    William Thompson (1824-1907) was the first Baron Kelvin (Lord Kelvin). During the 1880s, Thomson worked to perfect the adjustable compass in order to correct errors arising from magnetic deviation owing to the increasing use of iron in naval architecture. Thomson's design was a great improvement on the older instruments, being steadier and less hampered by friction, the deviation due to the ship's own magnetism being corrected by movable masses of iron at the binnacle. Thomson's innovations involved much detailed work to develop principles already identified by George Biddell Airy and others but contributed little in terms of novel physical thinking. Thomson's energetic lobbying and networking proved effective in gaining acceptance of his instrument by the Admiralty.

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October 6, 2022 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

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