An ebony octant made in the early 19th Century is one of several highlights at a one off auction happening next week.
The measuring and navigational device is along 118 lots at the barometers and antique clocks sale at Fellows & Sons auctioneers:
It’s happening on Tuesday 13th November 2007 in Birmingham, UK.
Fellows & Sons’ managing partner Stephen Whittaker said: “With the modern equipment we use to sail these days, it’s easy to forget how pivotal the octant was at one time.
“It was the prime navigation tool used by sailors. You can only wonder what dramas a device like this may have witnessed.”
Octants were actually on their way out when this one was made.
The more accurate sextant was preferred by larger ships. Smaller merchant and fishing vessels still used the octant because of its lower cost.
The octant is lot 59 in the sale and was made by Spencer, Browning & Co.
It has an ivory name plaque, scale and vernier and a brass index arm and fittings.
Fellows & Sons’ experts have valued it at between £300 and £400.
The sale will also feature a number of antique barometers at the modern auction rooms in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
All sales can be monitored over the internet with a live audio feed.
And you can bid for items using clever internet auction technology.
See the full online catalogue at http://www.fellows.co.uk/
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
• A Fellows spokesman is available for interview. Call Mary-Ann Long on 0121 212 5500. Or email mary@fellows.co.uk
• Pictures are available on request
• Fellows & Sons is one of the UK’s oldest auctioneers, and is based in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham, UK. It was established in 1876 and remains a family business. It is rapidly becoming known as one of the UK’s most technologically advanced auctioneers, using the latest digital marketing techniques and internet bidding technology to open up real life auctions to buyers across the world
