Stacks Image 16

Unsigned Colonial Semi Circumferentor - Owned by Bedini

360 Degree Spinner View - with Zoom Option
(Zoom with your mouse scroll wheel or with the magnifying glass in the spinner menu bar. Unzoom to regain control of the 360 degree spinner).

SOLD - Email Russ

This unsigned colonial semi circumferentor was featured in the 1964 Bedini book (PDF) at Figure 34 and the accompanying text. As indicated in the book, Bedini owned this instrument, and I came across a number of pics of the instrument while I reviewed Bedini's files at the Smithsonian. I included a front and back scans of one oft he Smithsonian photos below.

In his book, Bedini describes his semi circumferentor:

"Of equal interest is a large semicircumferentor made by an unknown American instrument maker in the second half of the 18th century. The instrument (fig. 34) consists of a plate of hammered brass attached to a quarter circle block of mahogany, with a glass covered trough compass within a silvered opening, and the gradations stamped into the brass. The brass sighting bars are attached to a swivelling bar that can be fixed in place with a set screw underneath the block. The instrument, which is in the collection of the writer, is not signed with a maker's name. Its workmanship is excellent, and professional."

The Semi Circumferentor lacked sight vanes and thumbscrews when owned by Bedini. A subsequent owner had Jeff Lock make replacement vanes and thumbscrews - Jeff did a wonderful job.

Here are the specs:

14 inch alidade

8.5 inch needle

Inner scale to 1/2 degrees

This is a great opportunity to own Bedini's colonial semi circumferentor.


Stacks Image 403
Stacks Image 405
Stacks Image 407
Stacks Image 409
Stacks Image 414
Stacks Image 411
Stacks Image 429
Stacks Image 425
Stacks Image 421

© 2020 Russ Uzes/Contact Me