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Octant

Catalogue number:
PH*34332

Inscriptions:
"Owens Liverpool" and "1795"

Dimensions:
radius 14 inches

Discussion:
Albert R. Crittenden, a manufacturer of marine hardware in Middletown, Ct., gave this octant to the Smithsonian in 1882. It has an ebony frame, flat brass index arm, and ivory name plate. The ivory scale is graduated every 20 minutes from -2^o to +99^o and read by vernier to single minutes of arc. There is also a back sight and a back horizon glass that can be used to measure angles greater than 90^o. The design of this octant is consistent with the date 1795.

Further Information:

Owens
Octant