• Title
  Circumferentor made by William Cary, London, 1790-1825
• Creator
  William Cary, 1759–1825
• Call number
  R 2323
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  1790-1825
• Type of material
  Objects
• Reference code
  9611791
• Physical Description
  1 circumferentor in a box - 18.5 cm. in diameter - wood and brass
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  A circumferentor or surveyor’s compass is an instrument used in surveying to measure horizontal angles. It was superseded by the theodolite in the early 19th century.
  
  William Cary (1759–1825) was an English instrument maker who set up his own business in 1790 which he pursued until his death. He produced numerous scientific instruments including mechanical calculators, measuring instruments, telescopes, microscopes, navigation and survey equipment.
  
  Reference: Library correspondence file.
• Collection history
  Possibly belonging to John Oxley from who the Cranfield family is descended.
• Scope and Content
  Circular wooden box, 18.5 cm diameter, containing a circular brass instrument with a pair of brass sights and seven brass arms meeting at a central metal ring marked in degrees; “Cary London” is engraved on two of the brass arms.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• Copying Conditions
  Out of copyright:
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
• Attributions / conjectures
  
  The donor's family is descended from surveyor-general and explorer, John Oxley, best known for two expeditions into the interior of New South Wales in 1817 and 1818 and a third expedition to the Brisbane River in 1823. It is possible that this circumferentor belonged to Oxley.
• Date note
  
  No date. 1790-1825 dated from William Cary’s working life.
• Conservation note
  
  Good condition but missing its magnetic needle and other parts.
• Subject
  Surveying--Instruments.
  Scientific apparatus and instruments.
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE20518876

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