This Outstanding Instrument Has Been Sold. Thank you! Custom polished at buyer's request CHADBURN & Son - LIVERPOOL Quintant - Sextant Made for John Bliss & Co. New York This instrument is in better than museum condition making it perfect for an important gift or for a collection of only the finest nautical antiques Copyright 2013 by Land And Sea Collection, All Rights Reserved PRESENTED is a instrument that is beyond museum quality which makes it so rare and special that it can be considered a remarkable relic of the 1870's. This is only the second time we have had the pleasure of offering for sale an instrument that exceeds the highest British Class A specifications. It is a brass frame quintant with an arc that subtends 144 degrees, in near new condition and with its Midnight matt black original finish in perfect condition .   Advanced design features include a very large horizon mirror and an equally large Index mirror which gather more light, and hence improve the taking of twilight sights when using either an extra large wide angle star scope and a smaller star scope. In addition, there is a higher powered sun scope, a collimation scope and two sighting tubes for terrestrial objects, making six in all.   The frame's intricate webbing is in the form of candle flames which is unique to this maker's approach in making a strong and rigid frame. The handle is carved from a solid block of elephant Ivory, again something unique to Chadbrurn & Son.  Engraved in Victorian style script on the platinum arc at 70 ° is, "John Bliss & Co., New York", and to the far left in Copper Plate Gothic, "English". There is no serial number which is common for this maker.   The instrument and its accessories are housed in a high quality Mahogany box with a hand rubbed finish and patina of age. It has a recessed brass, campaign style handle, two hooks and surprisingly, the original key. The interior of the case, which has wood holders for all the accessories, is finished in high gloss varnish and is also in "Like New" condition. There is a small Negus label on the inside. A small screwdriver is missing, but a round, turned brass adjuster for the mirrors is present.     CHADBURN & SON, THE MAKER: This is the second and more extensively equipped quintant that we have found from Chadburn & Son. The first was an equally impressive instrument. See http://landandseacollection.com/id943.html  Our research has determined they were located in Liverpool, England and made measuring devices and optical instruments. In 1898, they were acquired by the prestigious Chadburns (Ships) Telegraph Company, which was also headquartered in Liverpool. Until  the acquisition, these two companies were unrelated, and only by chance shared the same name. We were able to identify a common three circle frame sextant by Chadburn that was obviously made after they had been taken over by the Telegraph company, and dates to the 1st Quarter of the 20th Century. Ref. This maker is so rare and little known that they are not listed in Sextants at Greenwich", "Sextants at Greenwich" by W.E.J. Mozer Bruyns, which catalogs the collection of the British National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, England. JOHN BLISS & Co.: John Bliss (Sr.) (1975 -1857) John Bliss originally worked as a jeweler in New York in 1835. Later that year he went into business with English watchmaker Frederick Creighton, as Bliss & Creighton (from Bliss & Co. Almanacs). They set up initially as jewelers & silversmiths at 42 Fulton St., in lower Manhattan, near the South Street docks, where they remained in this general area for their entire existence. Bliss & Creighton over the years acquired the know how and equipment to make high quality marine chronometers for which they were noted. The partners had a falling out in1853 which ended in law suits that lasted beyond their life times. John Bliss then took his oldest son, John Jr., into partnership, establishing the firm of John Bliss & Son at 40 Fulton St., which evolved into Bliss & Co when Senior died in 1857. John Bliss & Co. began producing a number of nautical instruments themselves, namely compasses, binnacles, logs, azimuth (bearing) instruments, and transit instruments. In addition they sold sextants made in England and later Germany with their name on them, as well as other nautical items such as rules, binoculars, barometers, and Chelsea clocks that were made by others but with John Bliss & Co. on them. The company also continued their own made chronometer business. James Blunt and the Negus brothers were also noted American instrument makers during this period and in 1873, Bliss acquired the prestigious Blunt operations. They were at various locations in lower Manhattan and ended up at 84 Pearl St. from 1929 to 1956, when that building was sold and they were forced to go out of business.  John Bliss & Co., New York in Script Vernier reading from 0" to 10" from right   INSTRUMENT CONDITION: It is hard to adequately describe a 143 year old  antique instrument which has survived in perfect condition other than to say  the elephant ivory handle has a pleasing warm patina and an age crack, and that a small screw driver is missing. There is a small black accessory magnifier which is broken. The index and the horizon mirror are in good condition. The index arm clamp, and swing arm magnifier are complete and in good working order. Both sets of shades, i.e., filters are without imperfections. CASE: The square case has an unadorned scalloped brass plate which are frequently lost, and shows the expected scratches, and handling marks of age across the top. Elsewhere, it has numerous nicks and scrapes from years of use at sea. It is fitted with the desirable campaign type brass hardware with a recessed handle. The instrument's Ivory handle is housed in a tight fitting chock, and it's accessories are housed in the customary wood holders. The two end cap filters for the telescopes are mounted in the holders on left. A holder at the back house a small magnifier which is present. There are two latches and a lock, and the original key is present. The varnish has a wonderful old patina that only comes with natural aging.  The instrument is complete with: One short sighting tube One long sighting tube One long high powered collimation scope One medium powered telescope One low powered star scope One very large wide angle star scope a very large size horizon mirror  A moderate size index mirror Magnifier for the vernier Adjustment device of mirrors Original key The polished platinum scale is calibrated -5 to +150° with a vernier scale reading from the right from 0 to 10 arc seconds in 2 arc second intervals. The quintant has four partially rounded shades for the index mirror and three round shades for the horizon mirror. The telescope's distance from the frame may be adjusted by turning a knob at the back of the rising piece. Very Large Horizon mirror Index mirror Rare Ivory handle CERTIFICATE: There is no certificate which is customary with antique instruments. This is a one time opportunity to acquire an exceptionable instrument from a little known, up-scale English instrument maker for John Bliss & Co., New York DIMENSIONS: Arc -5 to + 150 degrees Length of index arm 9 3/8" Radius of index arm 8 3/8" Width of frame at arc 10 1/4" Index mirror 30 x 32 mm Horizon mirror 28 x 32 mm Instrument weight 3 lbs 10 oz Case 10" X 10 10 3/4" x 5 1/8" Weight in case 9 lbs 13 oz SHIPPING, PACKING AND INSURANCE to 48 contiguous states $40.00 OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within five days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Returns must be insured for their full value. All that is required is a prior email authorization by us for the return. The cost of shipping, packaging and handling within the continental United States will be refunded if we are at fault. An unquestionably remarkable instrument in better than museum quality condition. CCopyright 2013 by Land And Sea Collection, All Rights Reserved