Beschreibung:

J Davis & Sons - a boxwood and brass inclinometer level, by J Davis & Sons, All Saints, Derby, with compass, protractor hinge, two levels ... and scale, cased John Davis first came to Derby for varying periods before moving on again, mainly to Cheltenham. He was in the town in 1830, again in 1831, in 1835-36, on and off during the period 1837-1843, before settling permanently behind 22, Iron Gate, Derby in 1844; the firm is still flourishing. John Davis (1811-1873) was a member of an extended family of instrument makers of Jewish descent who, like John in the years prior to 1844, mainly worked peripatetically. Some members of the family - John, senior, David, William and a female relative - had attended Spencer's academy in Green Lane, run by the philosopher Herbert Spencer's father and grandfather, during the 1780s and 1790s.. However, the description on the instrument John Davis & Son/All Saints' Derby tells us that it was made after John Davis's eldest son was taken into partnership in 1873, and Henry took over on his father's death, retaining the style "John Davis & son/Derby" which was current until the Company style changed in 1898 to "John Davis (Derby) Ltd". The firm built a new works called All Saints' works in Amen Alley opening them in November 1875, and the use of the style "All Saints', Derby" on this instrument confirms that it was made within eighteen months or two years of that date, when the firm was keen to emphasise its new premises. Thus the instrument was probably made 1876-78 Read more