overall: 8 9/16 in x 4 1/4 in x 9 7/8 in; 21.74875 cm x 10.795 cm x 25.0825 cm
Object Name:
gradienter
Place made:
United States: District of Columbia, Washington
Description:
This gradienter marked "Geo. Shilling Washn D.C." and "U.S.G.S. No 4" was made after 1882 when George Shilling began in business, and before 1907 when the U.S. Geological Survey transferred it to the Smithsonian. The horizontal circle and vertical arc are silvered, graduated to 30 minutes, and read by verniers to single minutes. A level vial sits atop the telescope; a circular level sits on the horizontal circle, obscuring most of Shilling's signature.
George Shilling (1844–1917) was born and educated in Norway and moved to the United States in 1867. In 1882, after working in several American instrument shops, he went into business on his own, manufacturing surveying and astronomical instruments. His shop was in Washington, D.C., and the federal government was his biggest customer.
