Object Details
- Kelvin & James White, Ltd.
- Description
- William Thomson described a new "Marine Azimuth Mirror" at the 1877 meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and patented the design in Britain and the U.S. This instrument is an example of the improved design, with a reflecting prism in place of the original mirror. Thomson introduced this form in the early 1880s. The signature indicates that it was made during the period 1900-1913. The base bears the inscriptions "KELVIN & JAMES WHITE, LIMITED. GLASGOW" and "LORD KELVIN’S (SIR WM THOMSON) PATENTS No 5713." The U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey transferred the instrument to the Smithsonian in 1929.
- Ref: William Thomson, "Device for Taking Azimuths," U.S. Patent #210,068.
- William Thomson, "Azimuth Instrument," U.S. Patent #402,364.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey
- early 20th century
- ID Number
- PH.309653
- catalog number
- 309653
- accession number
- 106954
- Object Name
- azimuth mirror
- Measurements
- box: 6 13/16 in x 10 1/4 in x 4 3/4 in; 17.30375 cm x 26.035 cm x 12.065 cm
- overall: 9 in x 6 in x 2 in; 22.86 cm x 15.24 cm x 5.08 cm
- overall: 6 3/4 in x 10 1/4 in x 4 3/4 in; 17.145 cm x 26.035 cm x 12.065 cm
- place made
- United Kingdom: Scotland, Glasgow
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
- Navigation
- Measuring & Mapping
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_1167852
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-256d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
