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History of Science Museum

Sector, by Thomas Heath, London, 1730-1750

Inventory Number 18805.1.1


Brief Description
An example of the improved layout of the standard sector by the notable London maker Thomas Heath, who unusually gave these instruments a serial number.
Item type
Object
Provenance
Presented by Howard Dawes.
Primary inscriptions
"T * Heath London | No 109"
Object type
Sector
Dimensions
Height: 5mm Width: 423mm Depth: 72mm
Inventory No
18805.1.1

Description

Brass sector to a 12 inch radius, with folding thin metal strut and a decorated circular hinge. The signed side has sectoral scales for Sin (0-90), Tan (0-45) and tan (45-75); with the instrument fully unfolded, there are plain scales for Num (a double scale of logarithms, 1-10, 1-10), Sin (10'-90), V.Sin (versed sine, 168-0) and Tan (10'-45). The reverse has sectoral scales for Cho (0-60), Lin (0-10), sec (10-75) and POL (polygons, 12-6); with the instrument fully unfolded, there are two two-foot scales, one conventionally divided, the other decimally, with 100 parts to the foot. There are also plain scales for In.Mer. (inclination of the meridian, 0-90), Cho. (chords, 0-90), Lat. (latitude, 0-90) and Hou. (hours, 0-VI).