FROM THE DALE BEEKS COLLECTION

This is a fantastic and rare instrument, and based on two U.S. Patents (#99 and #2880). Made in Virginia. Like a Whiteley Quadrant, a Danner Trigonometer could be used as a compass to take bearings by setting the compass to point to North/South and then moving one of the arms to appropriate amount of degrees. The instrument could also be used to measure angles independently of the needle, like a Railroad Compass. The instrument could be used on its side as a Quadrant for taking vertical degrees. Finally, the sine grid allowed a surveyor to make trigonometric calculations as well (The trigonometer allows the calculation of the two sides of a right triangle when the hypotenuse and one angle are known).

Whiteley invented and patented his quadrant in 1836 (#99).

On Dec. 12, 1842 Benjamin Hyde Benton of Middleburg, VA was granted US Patent 2,880 “Improvement in Surveying Instruments”. This is basically a trigonometer incorporated into Whiteley’s instrument. Most Whiteley instruments encountered today are of this form. This subsequent form of surveying instrument evolved from Whitley's and Benton's patent quadrants.

My Danner Trigonometer combines Whiteley’s quadrant patent with Benton’s grid patent.

There were two Jacob Danner’s, which creates some confusion here. Jacob Danner was the father of Jacob S. Danner. Dale and others believed that Jacob Danner (the dad) made Whiteley’s quadrants and then made the combination Whiteley - Benton Trigonometers. There is an unsigned Trigonometer out there that looks exactly like my signed Jacob S.Danner Trigonometer. As you can see in the pic below, mine is clearly signed J. S. Danner. Jacob S. Danner lived in Middletown VA.

So either Jacob S. made all of the Whiteley quadrants and Whiteley - Benton Trigonometers, or Jacob and Jacob S. made them together.

There are very few Whiteley - Danner - Whitescarver instruments with the maker's name engraved on it, so that makes my Danner Trigonometer pretty special. My Danner also is a beautiful with all of its sight vanes and its trough compass with cover. The only thing missing from my Danner - part of the chain counter mechanism. That doesn't detracted much from this rare instrument in my view.

Please see my Whiteley - Danner - Whitescarver Webpage for more information about these special instruments. You can also go directly to the page describing the Danner-type instruments if you prefer.

Also, please take a look at the 360 degree view with Zoom ability thru the link below.