What's in the case? A Guessing Game.

[GregN]

Ok guys, as I've mentioned, I haven't posted much as I really haven't picked up anything worthy of the Forum, until today. This is a bit of a tease, the question is: What's in the case? Any guesses?

The case is green shagreen (dyed stingray skin over a wood body with silver mounts). It's about 9 inches long and 3 inches wide and .5 inches thick (no jokes please):tinysmile_shutup_t2.

Regards,

Greg

 

[kahu1]

something Japanese?

 

[Dronic69]

Looks like an Antique Surgeon's Lancet set - would probably have contained up to 6 surgical "bleeding" lancets.

Be around the mid-late 1700s - perhaps even later early 1800s.............

Very good quality judging by the size of the individual backbones clusters.

Cheers
Drew

 

[GregN]

Well Drew is trending close. I'm pretty sure it's call a Gunner Protractor - basically the Gunner's Computer from???? I'm hoping someone can tell me the approximate age and rarity. I assume it's British and looks to be made by W. Deane. I think this is a rare item, what does the Forum think?

Regards,

Greg

 

[beihan62]

Gunners calipers,circa 1770,the inner points are for measuring calibre of shot,outer points for measuring calibre of barrel,the weight of powder is read from scale,other weights of liquids and solids are engraved for reference,
I googled it,
Don,

 

[GregN]

Thanks Don, just imagine if these could talk!

Greg

 

[HAZORD]

Cool piece of equipment! Maybe you can find directions on its use in some old Artillery books.

I have old artillery books, but my stuff stops around the mid 1800's.

 

[beihan62]

I googled "1770 gunners calipers," and came to a site,,, www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/geometry/summary.htm There were lots of old gunnery instruments listed and shown some with the directions as to how they were used,hope that helps,
Cheers,
Don,

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

What an interesting piece of old kit. Thanks for showing it. There can't be a huge number of those left.

 

[GregN]

Hi all, A bit my searching yielded the following information "William Deane, London, apprenticed 1710; Free to the Company, 1718; Master of the Company, 1747. Courtesy of Webster's Database of Scientific Instrument Makers, Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum"

No doubt this instrument saw a lot of action. I sold NOTHING at the gun show but bought a TREASURE!

Cheers,

Greg