Object Details
- W. & L. E. Gurley
- Description
- This solar compass belonged to the U. S. Geological Survey, a federal agency that was established in 1879. It was made around 1880, and transferred to the Smithsonian in 1920. The horizontal circle is silvered, graduated to 30 minutes, and read by opposite verniers to single minutes. The inscription reads "W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy, N.Y." The auxiliary telescope, which attaches to either sight vane, is marked "PAT. JULY 9, 1878," and is described by the patent (#205,712) that was granted to William and Lewis E. Gurley in 1878.
- Ref: W. & L. E. Gurley, Manual of the Principal Instruments used in American Engineering and Surveying (Troy, N. Y., 1878), p. 70.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- U.S. Geological Survey
- ca 1880
- ID Number
- PH.307086
- catalog number
- 307086
- accession number
- 65070
- Object Name
- Solar Compass
- Measurements
- overall length: 15 in; 38.1 cm
- telescope: 8 1/2 in; 21.59 cm
- overall: 12 15/16 in x 18 1/2 in x 6 1/2 in; 32.86125 cm x 46.99 cm x 16.51 cm
- place made
- United States: New York, Troy
- Related Publication
- W. & L. E. Gurley. Manual of the Prinicipal Instruments Used in American Engineering and Surveying; 23rd Edition
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
- Surveying and Geodesy
- Measuring & Mapping
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_747053
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-8ad3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
