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Surveyors' sextant

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probably made in London

Surveyors' sextant
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This surveyor's sextant was made around 1850, probably by Troughton and Simms, scientific instrument makers based in London. It is made of brass, with a silvered scale and is fitted with a reading microscope and a pillar stand.

This form of instrument is basically a conventional nautical sextant with a counterbalanced stand which converts it into a theodolite. The instrument can be swung vertically or horizontally to take readings in two planes.

The donor of this instrument was involved in surveying the freshwater lochs of Scotland, and it is probable that the instrument was used in a boat to fix its position relative to various shore stations.

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