Details
NEWTON AND SON. Pulley and Cord Orrery. London, 66 Chancery Lane and 3 Fleet St., circa 1850.
An unusual Pulley and Cord Orrery, base diameter 17 ¼ inches (44cm). The oak base plate with varnished outer hand-coloured engraved zodiac, compass and calendar scales, inner engraved disc of stippled cloud effects, the scales signed Newton and Son. The Earth and Moon operate from the axis on on a separate brass pulley and cord system where two pulleys of equal size with uncrossed cords keep the direction of the earth's axis constant, while a further pair of cross cords drives the moon around the earth, a third pair of uncrossed cords ensures the retrogression of the nodes of the inclined lunar orbit ring. To effect the earth's diurnal motion the lower end of the earth's axis has a small cone shaped gear which engages with the serrated inner of the rim of a circular disc, this disc derives its motion from the lunation pulley, two of the cords original. The remaining inner and outer planets on lacquered brass arms with extensions for Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, planets and the moon in ivory, earth represented by Newton and Son's New Terrestrial Globe, 1 ½ inches diameter. Central gilded sunball mounted on top of the axis, diameter 2 ½ inches, the base on three short turned legs. Contained in a contemporary box with label of Newton and Co., 18 ½ inches square.
A fine and rare pulley and cord orrery, in excellent condition with all planetary attachments. King and Milburn: Geared to the stars p.210 discusses a smaller Mercury Venus Earth/Moon model in the Science Museum in London, which excludes the outer planets.
An unusual Pulley and Cord Orrery, base diameter 17 ¼ inches (44cm). The oak base plate with varnished outer hand-coloured engraved zodiac, compass and calendar scales, inner engraved disc of stippled cloud effects, the scales signed Newton and Son. The Earth and Moon operate from the axis on on a separate brass pulley and cord system where two pulleys of equal size with uncrossed cords keep the direction of the earth's axis constant, while a further pair of cross cords drives the moon around the earth, a third pair of uncrossed cords ensures the retrogression of the nodes of the inclined lunar orbit ring. To effect the earth's diurnal motion the lower end of the earth's axis has a small cone shaped gear which engages with the serrated inner of the rim of a circular disc, this disc derives its motion from the lunation pulley, two of the cords original. The remaining inner and outer planets on lacquered brass arms with extensions for Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, planets and the moon in ivory, earth represented by Newton and Son's New Terrestrial Globe, 1 ½ inches diameter. Central gilded sunball mounted on top of the axis, diameter 2 ½ inches, the base on three short turned legs. Contained in a contemporary box with label of Newton and Co., 18 ½ inches square.
A fine and rare pulley and cord orrery, in excellent condition with all planetary attachments. King and Milburn: Geared to the stars p.210 discusses a smaller Mercury Venus Earth/Moon model in the Science Museum in London, which excludes the outer planets.