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Wolfgang K�berer wrote-


Two local museums (The Whipple museum for the History of science in Oxford,
UK, and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich,UK) list sextants mounted
on pillars among the objects they possess. They are not "pillar sextants" of
the double frame type, but clearly not for use on board. So it seems they
are a special type intended for surveying on land.

and added later-

White himself uses the term "pillar sextant". But that doesn't necessarily
mean a sextant mounted on a pillar: He said it was a Troughton sextant of
the beginning of (his) century (i.e. the 19th). As Troughton is said to have
invented the "pillar sextant" (double frame sextant) in 1788 it is possible
that White was writing about such an instrument.

And there is a "pillar sextant" on a pillar in another local museum, the
Science museum in London, UK. Have a look at their web site:

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/astronomy/1931-95.aspx

===================

Thanks, Wolfgang, that's helpful. I now think it likely that White was 
indeed referring to the handheld double-frame sextant.

Just a Minor niggle. The Whipple museum is in Cambridge, not Oxford, and in 
view of the long-held enmity between those two institutions, it's important 
to decide which is which. I am aware of the instrument at the Oxford museum; 
is there one also in Cambridge?

George.

contact George Huxtable at george@huxtable.u-net.com
or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222)
or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.




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