December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
An exceptionally well-engraved set of gunner's calipers by noted scientific instrument maker, Addison Smith (1737 - 1795), who had apprenticed under noted optician Francis Watkins, whose daughter he later married and formed a partnership with his father-in-law in 1763, but went out on his own before 1770, establishing his shop on the Strand. The caliper is 7 in. long when closed (the steel tips of each blade touching each other) and 2 3/4 in. wide at that end. It is beautifully engraved on both sides, the front upper blade bears "A Smith London" in beautiful "copperplate" engraved script and has an engraved tables for calculating powder quantities for used in brass Land and Sea mortars and howitzers, by the various sizes then used by the Royal Artillery. The reverse side has two similar tables engraved for powder required for cannon when either proving such arms or in "service" use (one leg bears that for brass guns and the other for ones cast from iron). The two flat blades are hinged so that they slide freely over each other, permitting the steel tips to point either inwards to take the diameters of shot or outwards to measure the bore of a gun. In this example, scales at the hinge give diameters in inches and the corresponding weight of iron shot. The scales for inches of the bore and for the pounder rating of the gun are engraved along the length of one of the limbs. CONDITION: very good and in good working order, a few dings along the outside and a few, scattered dark stain spots or divots, mostly on the outer ends of the front side of the blades; the engraving is crisp and strong throughout.