William J. Young & Sons "Burt's Solar Compass,"

Description:

William J. Young & Sons "Burt's Solar Compass," Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, c. 1872, original lacquered instrument, horizontal circle engraved in four quadrants reading 0-90 and read by opposed verniers to single minutes, blued-steel needle and scale calibrated 10-0-10, arms engraved "Wm. J Young & Sons/makers/Philadelphia," and serial number 4631 in compass box, inlaid silver latitude arc calibrated 30 to 55 reading to single minuets by vernier inlaid silver declination arc calibrated 0-25 reading to single minutes by vernier, dual spirit levels, graduated and tapered sighting vanes, and four-screw leveling base, ht. 12 in.

Note: William J. Young made, following Burt's directions, the first solar compass in 1840. Young and other makers continued manufacturing "Burt's solar compasses" through the early 1900s and a few instruments were still in use in government land surveys as late as the 1960s, they were used to survey most of the western United States. This lot was presented by William B. Barr to the office of the Surveyor General of Oregon on September 8, 1880, for examination and approval, was approved on that date and used by Barr in surveys in Oregon through 1884.
Estimate $3,000-5,000


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