A mid 19th century brass pillar sextant signed on the arc W.C. Cox, Devonport with silvered scale, the braced frame with adjustable telescope mounting socket, seven shades, the index arm -- 6¾in. (17.2cm.) radius, with vernier, magnifier, tangent screw fine adjustment and clamp, with rosewood handle fitted to the alt/azimuth mounting, pillar fitted to lid of keystone box, with two telescopes, overall height -- 19in. (48.3cm.)

Details

A mid 19th century brass pillar sextant signed on the arc W.C. Cox, Devonport with silvered scale, the braced frame with adjustable telescope mounting socket, seven shades, the index arm -- 6¾in. (17.2cm.) radius, with vernier, magnifier, tangent screw fine adjustment and clamp, with rosewood handle fitted to the alt/azimuth mounting, pillar fitted to lid of keystone box, with two telescopes, overall height -- 19in. (48.3cm.)
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Lot Essay

William Charles Cox worked 1822-1857 at various addresses in Devonport and Plymouth. He was agent for Robert Bate's Admiralty charts, and for chronometers by such prestigious makers as Arnold, Dent and Frodsham. Such pillar sextants were used for position finding at sea, or when mounted, for surveying on land.

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