Antique Scientific Instruments

Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel

Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel
Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel

Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel

For sale, an eighteenth or early nineteenth century waywiser or odometer. This extremely rare blacksmith made artefact is made from ebonised wood with an iron bound wheel and turned spokes. To the centre is a box containing the mechanism comprised of a threaded axle which turns three wooden gears which are engineered to accurately measure miles, furlongs and yards. These are measured by means of a superb eighteenth century handwritten paper dial and three decorative iron pointers.

The odometer (also variously known as a sureyors wheel, a waywiser and perambulator) was used prolifically by surveyors and mapmakers during the period. One was certainly used by Major James Rennell (Surveyor General to the Honorable East India Company) during his surveying of Bengal. He is noted in The Cyclopedia; or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences & Literature in 1819 as saying that, he measured a meridian line of three degrees with this instrument; and found it to agree minutely with the observations of latitude. An Allowance however, was made for the irregularities of the ground whenever they occurred.

Their history of course is much longer than that. It is supposed that Archimedes was the inventor of the odometer and it was further developed by Vitruvius. In the seventeenth century, waywisers were put to use in John Oglibys surveying of the British Isles, a slightly different model can often be seen pictured in the cartouches present on his maps.

A very similar example to this one currently forms part of the historical maps collection of Princeton University. These examples were used by the first surveyors of the United States. A fantastically rare museum piece from the days of early surveying and map making. Jason Clarke Antiques are happy to discuss carriage, condition or for any other queries, alternatively, you can also message me and I will endeavour to come back to you as soon as possible.

I have a number of beautiful antiques for sale, so please feel free to browse my other items. The item "EIGHTEENTH CENTURY GEORGIAN WAYWISER, ODOMETER OR SURVEYOR'S WHEEL" is in sale since Monday, June 12, 2017. This item is in the category "Antiques\Science/Medicine\Scientific Instruments".

The seller is "jason750_1" and is located in newbury, Berkshire. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom.
  • Type: Engineering/ Surveying
  • Period: Pre 1800
  • Sub-Type: Odometer

Eighteenth Century Georgian Waywiser, Odometer Or Surveyor's Wheel