Beschreibung:

JONES, William and Samuel. A Planetarium with Tellurium and Lunarium . signed, W.& S. Jones, Holborn, London, circa 1800. A lacquered brass English drum-type Planetarium with Tellurian and Lunarium attachments, overall height 17½ inches (44cm.), the cylindrical drum, diameter 8¾ inches (22cm.), containing hand-cranked gearing to concentric drives on the vertical axis, the winding key with turned ivory handle. The silvered horizontal face plate engraved with central stylised star form, outer ring with calendar and zodiac scales, signed W.& S. Jones, Holborn,London . Outer rim of face plate with external rack corresponding with tellurium and lunarium drives, central axis with 7 planetary arms, planets, moons and satellites, a 2 inch diameter sunball at the centre (lacking two planets and 5 satellites). Separately geared tellurium attachment with 3 inch diameter terrestrial globe with over crescent, the globe inscribed Jones Pocket Globe, agreeable to the latest discoveries. London. Pub'd by C.& W. Cary Strand London 1791 (the Jones label pasted over the title), the mechanism steadied on the face plate by a guide wheel and rack drive to outer gear, engraved hour dial below globe. The separate lunarium attachment is constructed in a similar manner to the tellurium, showing the motion of the Earth and Moon around the sun, and illustrating the 29½ day lunar period, disc with calender and zodiac scales. (Tellurium and planetarium pointers lacking, some abrasions to globe, earth and moon balls lacking on tellurium). The drum mechanism on tapering pillar support and folding tripod stand, cabriole legs terminating in padded feet. The orrery contained in it's original fitted mahogany case, 23 inches high (58cm.), with fitted drawer and brass carrying handles. A fine 'Martin-type' drum planetarium by William and Samuel Jones, the 'top of the range model', first advertised in the 1794 edition of their book The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery , priced at 35 pounds and described 'as contrived by the late B. Martin'. Although this model was still advertised in 1855, this is an early example of the planetarium using the first Cary pocket globe, and probably dates from the the last decade of the 18th Century. The 1790's saw a important surge in business for the Jones brothers. The death of their main rival, George Adams Junior in 1795 left a gap in the orrery market, which was rapidly filled by the efforts of William Jones He pioneered an new portable orrery in 1782 which remained in production to 1855, also selling large board orreries and box orreries. For a description of the Cary pocket terrestrial see Van der Krogt Car 1, and for a fuller discussion of the Jones's work, C.King. Geared to the Stars 1978 pp 207-210.