Details
A Planetarium with Tellurian and Lunarium. Unsigned [London, late 19th Century].
A brass English drum-type Planetarium with Tellurian and Lunarium attachments, overall height 19 inches (48cm). Cyclindrical drum, diameter 9 inches (23cm), containing hand-cranked gearing to the concentric drives on the axis, with 2 driving shafts for fast and slower speeds, handle, two further side screws on the side of the drum for a weighted drive. The face plate engraved with a flaming sun, outer ring with calendar and zodiac scales, cut with external rack corresponding with the tellurian and lunarium drives, central axis with 6 planetary arms, ivory planets, moons and satellites, a two inch diameter sunball at centre. Separately geared tellurian attachment, with 2¾ inch globe titled A Correct Globe with the New Discoveries, the globe showing the track of Cook's first voyage, the mechanism steadied on the face plate by a guide wheel and rack drive to outer gear, engraved hour dial below globe. The separate lunarium attachment is constructed in a similar manner to tellurian, showing the motion of the Earth and Moon around the Sun, driven by Ferguson cogs, and illustrating the 29½ day lunar period, disc with calendar and zodiac scales (one planetary arm and planet replaced, later tellurian and lunarium calendar pointers, a few small abrasions on globe, later over crescent, lacking Earth on lunarium attachment). The drum mechanism on baluster shaped support and folding tripod stand, cabriole legs with inswept scroll feet.
A fine English planetarium stylistically attributed to George Adams Junior. The stand closely resembles an Adams stand on an Armillary Sphere of 1790 in the Teyler Museum cf. Turner and Levere Martinus van Marum, vol 4 no.94. The Earth globe although unsigned was made by the Adams firm and is found on many other Adams planetaria cf. Van der Krogt Ada 1-4. In addition the sixth satellite of Herschel was not discovered until 1789, and certainly not included on planetaria until well after this date. It is also interesting to note the copying that occurred amongst English instrument makers at this period, since a similar sunburst face plate is to be found on a Martin planetarium cf. Wynter and Turner Scientific Instruments, p.46 plate 47.
A brass English drum-type Planetarium with Tellurian and Lunarium attachments, overall height 19 inches (48cm). Cyclindrical drum, diameter 9 inches (23cm), containing hand-cranked gearing to the concentric drives on the axis, with 2 driving shafts for fast and slower speeds, handle, two further side screws on the side of the drum for a weighted drive. The face plate engraved with a flaming sun, outer ring with calendar and zodiac scales, cut with external rack corresponding with the tellurian and lunarium drives, central axis with 6 planetary arms, ivory planets, moons and satellites, a two inch diameter sunball at centre. Separately geared tellurian attachment, with 2¾ inch globe titled A Correct Globe with the New Discoveries, the globe showing the track of Cook's first voyage, the mechanism steadied on the face plate by a guide wheel and rack drive to outer gear, engraved hour dial below globe. The separate lunarium attachment is constructed in a similar manner to tellurian, showing the motion of the Earth and Moon around the Sun, driven by Ferguson cogs, and illustrating the 29½ day lunar period, disc with calendar and zodiac scales (one planetary arm and planet replaced, later tellurian and lunarium calendar pointers, a few small abrasions on globe, later over crescent, lacking Earth on lunarium attachment). The drum mechanism on baluster shaped support and folding tripod stand, cabriole legs with inswept scroll feet.
A fine English planetarium stylistically attributed to George Adams Junior. The stand closely resembles an Adams stand on an Armillary Sphere of 1790 in the Teyler Museum cf. Turner and Levere Martinus van Marum, vol 4 no.94. The Earth globe although unsigned was made by the Adams firm and is found on many other Adams planetaria cf. Van der Krogt Ada 1-4. In addition the sixth satellite of Herschel was not discovered until 1789, and certainly not included on planetaria until well after this date. It is also interesting to note the copying that occurred amongst English instrument makers at this period, since a similar sunburst face plate is to be found on a Martin planetarium cf. Wynter and Turner Scientific Instruments, p.46 plate 47.