Beschreibung:

A lacquered and patinated brass transit theodolite Adie and Wedderburn, Edinburgh, mid 19th century The circular base with four adjustable feet and shaped plate for mounting on a tripod beneath rotating trunnion table with twin fine silver Vernier scales calibrated to five second divisions and with pivoted viewing lens, the upper superstructure centred with glazed compass incorporating recessed silvered centre annotated N, NW, W, SW, S, SE, E, NE within degree circle, the circumference mounted with spirit level and ‘A’ frame supports for the reversible telescope with screw focus adjustment and incorporating vertical circle calibrated in degrees with twin verniers and further spirit level, the compass centre engraved Adie & Wedderburn., Edinburgh, 33.5cm (13.25ins) high; now mounted on a thick rectangular oak platform and with a hardwood box 33.5cm (13.25ins) wide. Please see our website for full footnote regarding Adie and Wedderburn Alexander Adie is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as born 1775 and dying in 1858. Adie was the nephew of John Miller one of the leading Scottish makers of Scientific Instruments in the 18th century and was apprenticed to him in 1789. In 1804 they formed the partnership of Miller and Adie which continued until the death of John Miller in 1815. Adie continued the business alone specialising in meteorological instruments obtaining a patent in 1818 for his air barometer or sympiesometer. In recognition of this invention he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1819. He was appointed optician to William IV and later Queen Victoria after forming a partnership with his son, John, in 1835 to form Adie & Son. John's brother, Richard, moved to Liverpool where he set-up business in Bold Street in 1835. He employed Thomas Wedderburn as a foreman in Edinburgh through whom the current lot was probably supplied.