Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

Antique Mineral Testing Kit – “Superior Blowpipe Set – With Extra Apparatus” by J.T. Letcher of Cornwall. Circa 1880-90. Retailers label overlaid, without loss of information – Tasmania: Hobart Walch & Sons; Launceston Walch Bros & Birchill.

Exceptional Museum quality example rarely found with so many remaining pieces. The only similar example we can find in this condition is displayed online at the virtual museum of the history of mineralogy referencing a “Private Collection”.

These field kits were used in Australia by explorers and geologists. They include apparatus and chemicals for grinding the sample, heating it and observing the colours in the flame to identify the constituent minerals. It has been used, which is great, but not effecting the quality of the contents.

Designed and manufactured by J.T. Letcher of Truro Cornwall and awarded the Society of Arts Silver Medal and the Colonel Croll Prize in International Competition in 1878. Each set guaranteed to equal that deposited at the Society’s House.

The use of the blowpipe was invented in Sweden in the 1700’s and further refined there at the Freiberg Mining Academy in the mid 19th C. This design by J.T. Letcher with its comprehensive accoutrements became the standard in the later Victorian period.

Original brass riveted mahogany box with escutcheon to lid. Contains a specially designed lift out tray with multiple compartments and layers containing tools, the blowpipe, a small anvil, rock hammer, spirit lamp and grease lamp, Numerous chemical reagents including the original “gold bead” in its tube. There is a agate pestle and mortar as well as a tiny crucible that we know was made by Royal Worcester.

The containers are made of box wood with names to top and with a lovely patina. Reagent bottles, miniature test tubes with labels, test tube holder and much more. Original platinum forceps.

The test papers box contains litmus, turmeric and brazil wood papers; along with Platinum wire and foil, tin foil and the tiny remnant of some magnesium. The minute bone spatula is still there … we could go on

The original under-label inside the lid describes the original contents and bar scissors we are struggling to see anything missing

The box still has it’s lock but the key is long gone. It has a worked patina and is still robust.

Something special in the mineral field. The Superior Set by the top maker of the day; along with respected Hobart retailer Walch label – try to find another one and then one like this!

$1,390.00

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Amethyst – Wave Hill Station – Northern Territory

A nice example with good crystal definition. Deep but smoky purple, clear at the root, Some hematite inclusions along one edge.

Amethyt is a quartz group mineral with trapezohedral crystals [six sides prism ending in a six sided pyramid].

The Greeks thought that it could counter intoxication and therefore carved drinking vessels from it – they really did have style. The not getting drunk idea is the Greek translation …

Whilst silicon dioxide is the foundation, iron creates the purple hue, other metals make subtle changes.

Wave Hill Station is a bit of a trek.

Weight 250 gm 9.0 cm by 8.0 cm x 5.0 cm matrix.

Wave Hill Amethyst could keep you sober …

$30.00

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Chrysocolla [Green Botryoidal Form] – Burra Burra Mine

A nice bright lump of the green chrysocolla from the historic Burra Burra Mine in South Australia. Distinctive botryoidal form.

Chrysocolla a hydrous copper phyllosilicate mineral of still debated structure.

The name ancient Greek and first recorded used by Voyager hero Theophrastus.

Chrysocolla can arise in a more blue form – we quite like the even underlying green tone of this sample.

It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies.

Weight 340 gm 9.0 cm by 8.0 cm x 7.0 cm matrix.

Burra Burra beauty

$85.00

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Otis King Calculator [Spiral Slide Rule] Mid 20thC

A very nice working example of the Otis King Calculator or spiral slide. Comes in its original box with retailer A Johnson, Tottenham Court Road, London.

Otis Crater Formy King [1876-1944] patented this spiral slide rule in the early 1900’s. In 1922 Carbic Ltd of London began to manufacture the instrument and continued to do so until 1970 when it became overtaken by modern day digital calculators.

The patent is really in our view stolen from the larger spiral slide rule invented by Fuller. Nevertheless, the handy nature of the Otis design made the instrument fairly popular.

This is a very good example of model K [there was a model L and that’s all] with two scales 414 at the bottom and 423 at the top. The original instructions are present although it doesn’t take Einstein to work out how to use it – part of the appeal.

There is a raft of information online including average youtube videos on how to use it … get the right one before you are put off. The guy who invented the computer mouse started a fanatics website which is fantastic and is building a database of information regarding existing instruments … even down to whether the instructions are stappled!

The retailer was founded by William Johnson [1837-1900] an optical and scientific instrument maker always at Tottenham Court Road – he had passed away before King got going with his calculator – the sons of Johnson continued in their fathers footsteps.

Collectable mathematical calculator by Otis King

$190.00

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South Australia – Marine Bryozoan – Antique Microscope Slide – Ernest Hinton – 150 Years Old

Ernest Hinton worked as a professional microscope slide preparer from 1864 to the end of the 19th Century. His mounts are identifiable by his standard slide labels and small distinctive and very neat handwriting. See example in authority Bracegirdle Plate 21 and page 52. This slide we believe circa 1875.

Hinton became a member of The Quekett Microscopical Club in 1872 [as an aside if you want to know more about the Q.M.C. contact Voyager Bill]. He spent his first 20 years working for Edmund Wheeler, some think he produced all of Wheeler’s slides from 1870. He worked in his own name from Holloway, London. His slides are considered to be of the highest quality.

Here we have an interesting Australian subject a marine lacy bryozoan from the waters off South Australia where they particularly occur. They are actually colonies of small marine animals [or zoids] fused together. Millions can form a colony, and South Australia has over 500 species.

Fine Australian specimen from top London maker circa 150 years old

$70.00

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Sikes’ Hydrometer Made by James J. Hicks, London for Mauri Bros and Thomson, Sydney

A lovely classic Sikes’ Hydrometer in a very good case with original bone plate engraved “Sikes’ Hydrometer made by J. Hicks, London for Mauri Bros & Thomson Ltd, Sydney”.

The hydrometer float and all the weights carrying the same identification number – the float is engraved Sikes. Note all the weights are there including the elusive “top weight”.

The thermometer is intact, working and in good condition. It is engraved the same as the case plate [but with the extra “J”].

The plush lined box is as original no damage. Everything is in super condition.

There are similar examples in the Powerhouse Museum.

James Joseph Hicks (1837-1916) first traded at 8 Hatton Gardens in the 1870’s. He expanded into adjoining premises in the 1890’s. Hicks had been apprenticed to L.P. Casella, fine instrument makers, [See our delightful Louis Casella boxed Compass] also in the Hatton Garden district, in 1852.

By 1860, Hicks had risen to foreman and from that date several patents are registered in his name. Once in business under his own name, he developed and manufactured numerous instrument types particularly in meteorology and industrial control instruments, such as the Sikes instrument.

Hicks died in 1911 and the business was taken over by Stanley who continued to use Hicks’ name until 1916. So, we can predate the manufacture of this item to before that year.

Joaquim and Jose Mauri started their business in Sydney in 1872. By the 1995 they had expanded considerably and they merged with Thomson to form Mauri Brothers & Thomson, late incorporated in 1905. The company continued to be involved in mergers, takeovers and takeouts over the rest of the 20thC and is now operating as Mauri and very good at what they do.

Fine and complete Sikes’ Hydrometer

Quality maker and special Sydney Customer – super and complete example.

$320.00

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Antique Mineral Testing Kit – “Superior Blowpipe Set – With Extra Apparatus” by J.T. Letcher of Cornwall. Circa 1880-90. Retailers label overlaid, without loss of information – Tasmania: Hobart Walch & Sons; Launceston Walch Bros & Birchill.

Amethyst – Wave Hill Station – Northern Territory

Chrysocolla [Green Botryoidal Form] – Burra Burra Mine

Otis King Calculator [Spiral Slide Rule] Mid 20thC

South Australia – Marine Bryozoan – Antique Microscope Slide – Ernest Hinton – 150 Years Old

Sikes’ Hydrometer Made by James J. Hicks, London for Mauri Bros and Thomson, Sydney

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