Octant - Keir Museum
History Of The Artefact:
This Octant made of wood, metal and ivory is a marine navigational instrument that was used to measure angles in a vertical or horizontal plane. The octant a fore-runner to the sextant is similar in function, but operates on 1/8th of a circle (45 degrees). Octants were produced in large numbers. In wood and ivory, their relatively low price compared to an all-brass sextant made them a popular instrument. Over time the octant was replaced by the sextant.
In the 18th century, London and the Royal Society played a central role in the history of scientific instruments. The octant was invented around 1730 by two different men, John Hadley (1682-1744) an English mathematician, and Thomas Godfrey (1704-1749), a glazier in Philadelphia.
This Octant was manufactured in London, England by Spencer Browning & Rust. The exact production dates for this artefact are unknown. However, records indicate the company produced scientific instruments from 1787 and closed in 1840 when Rust passed away and the company then became Spencer Browning & Co.
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octant_(instrument)
In the 18th century, London and the Royal Society played a central role in the history of scientific instruments. The octant was invented around 1730 by two different men, John Hadley (1682-1744) an English mathematician, and Thomas Godfrey (1704-1749), a glazier in Philadelphia.
This Octant was manufactured in London, England by Spencer Browning & Rust. The exact production dates for this artefact are unknown. However, records indicate the company produced scientific instruments from 1787 and closed in 1840 when Rust passed away and the company then became Spencer Browning & Co.
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octant_(instrument)