A perpetual log the front brass dial calibrated from I -- X and further sub-divided from 1 -- 300 together with four spandrels to the corners, the face inscribed Foxon's Perpetual Log No. 157 By the King's Patent, the instrument within contructed of steel and brass within a square housing and with a second brass dial on the left inscribed Half Minute, both dials with a single punched steel hand (later?), the whole mounted on a wooden base and housed in a contemporary style case with glazed apertures (later) -- 11 x 10½in. (28 x 26.5cm.)

Details

A perpetual log the front brass dial calibrated from I -- X and further sub-divided from 1 -- 300 together with four spandrels to the corners, the face inscribed Foxon's Perpetual Log No. 157 By the King's Patent, the instrument within contructed of steel and brass within a square housing and with a second brass dial on the left inscribed Half Minute, both dials with a single punched steel hand (later?), the whole mounted on a wooden base and housed in a contemporary style case with glazed apertures (later) -- 11 x 10½in. (28 x 26.5cm.)
See illustration

Lot Essay

William Foxon was a carpener of Deptford in Kent who constructed a series of such instuments over a relatively short period. He produced some of the earliest known examples of mechanical logs and this one dates from 1773. The devise was used with a torsion-free line about fifteen fathoms long and a very course pitched helical rotator which, because of the very principle on which it was based, was bound to give dubious results in heavy weather as was noted by Captain James Cook, who used a similar instrument on his second voyage
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