Object Details
- G. C. Wessmann
- inventor
- Williamson, Hugh
- Description
- In this curious instrument, a terrestrial globe sits inside a glass sphere on which the stars and constellations have been painted. This, in turn, is mounted on a decorative cast-zinc base. The cartouche on the terrestrial globe reads: “IMPROVEMENT IN / CELESTIAL & TERRESTRIAL / GLOBES / PATENTED BY H. WILLIAMSON / NEW YORK. DEC. 3, 1867 / Sold by HARPER & BROTHERS / Franklin Square, N.Y.” The words “PATENTED / DEC. 3, 1867 / No 85” and “G. C. WESSMANN / NEW YORK / MAKER” appear on a brass band that circles the terrestrial globe. New, this item cost $75.
- Hugh Williamson of New York City obtained a patent (#71,830) for a concentric globe in 1867, and a second prize at the American Institute fair of 1869.
- Ref: Hugh Williamson, A Manual of Problems of the Globes, Designed as an Accompaniment to Williamson’s Patent Concentric Celestial and Terrestrial Globes (New York, 1868).
- D. J. Warner, “The Geography of Heaven and Earth,” Rittenhouse 2 (1988): 134-135.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ca 1870
- ID Number
- 1989.0447.01
- catalog number
- 1989.0447.01
- accession number
- 1989.0447
- Object Name
- globe
- Physical Description
- gold leaf (overall material)
- brass (overall material)
- glass (overall material)
- iron (overall material)
- Measurements
- average spatial: 30.5 cm; 12 in
- overall: 22 3/4 in x 14 in; 57.785 cm x 35.56 cm
- place made
- United States: New York, New York City
- associated place
- United States: Massachusetts, Brookline
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
- Globes
- Measuring & Mapping
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Geography
- Astronomy
- Record ID
- nmah_1064930
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-1615-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
