Backstaff

A lignum vitae frame backstaff with boxwood arcs, brass rivets capped by decorative ivory triangles, and no vanes. The inlaid plate in the main strut is missing and there is now a modern ivory replacement. Floral decorations are stamped on the thirty degree arc.

The transversal scale on the thirty degree arc is from 0° to 25° by 5 arcminutes, and reads to 1 arcminute. The graduation on the sixty degree arc is from 0° to 60° by 1°, and on the outer edge has a scale for correcting for the Sun’s semi-diameter.

Object Details

ID: NAV0037
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Backstaff
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: circa 1720
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Overall: 15 mm x 640 mm x 335 mm
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