Theodolite
name: label: maker
content: Sisson, Jonathan
notes: label: Description
content: The basic form of this theodolite–with the telescope mounted on the open side of a semicircle–was introduced by Jonathan Sisson in London in 1737. In 1758 Edmund Stone described Sisson's theodolite as "certainly the best, most complete, handsome, and well designed Instrument possible." In this example, the vernier for the horizontal circle is moved by rack and pinion, and reads to 12 minutes. The front side of the vertical arc also reads by vernier to 12 minutes. The back side has a logarithmic scale. The "J. Sisson, London" signature refers to Jonathan Sisson (about 1690–1749) or his son, Jeremiah Sisson (1720–1783).
label: Description
content: Ref: William Gardiner, <i>Practical Surveying</i> (London, 1737).
label: Description
content: N. Bion, <i>Construction and Use of Mathematical Instruments</i>, English translation by Edmund Stone (London, 1758).
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United Kingdom: England, London
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
label: See more items in
content: Surveying and Geodesy
label: See more items in
content: Measuring & Mapping
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Gardiner, William. Practical Surveying
label: Related Publication
content: Bion, N.. Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PH.328868
label: catalog number
content: 328868
label: accession number
content: 278000
objectType: label: Object Name
content: theodolite
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 9 in; 22.86 cm
label: Measurements
content: horizontal circle: 5 in; 12.7 cm
label: Measurements
content: telescope: 4 7/8 in; 12.3825 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall in case: 10 13/16 in x 8 1/8 in x 7 in; 27.46375 cm x 20.6375 cm x 17.78 cm