Propellor Log Massey. patent 1802

One of the first mechanical ‘Perpetual logs’. V-shaped brass plate incorporating register dials and engraved above the rotator Edw. Massey / LLL Patentee / London / 6082 -- 13in. (33cm.) long

Type of object:

Other instruments

Time period:

Britain rules the waves + France

Place:

London

Date:

1830

Maker / Author:

Edward Massye

Publisher / Printer:

Massey

Dimensions:

30 cm

Material:

Brass

Graduation:

100miles max

Inscription:

Edw. Massey Patentee / London / 6082

Provenance:

Charles Miller London auction 30/4/19 London, via Francois Clemens

References:

Distance run, a history of the patent ship-log by Sharp 1999
Ships, clocks & Stars The quest for longitude, Collins, P 178

See full item list

Description

This is one of the earliest patent ‘Perpetual’ logs, replacing the ‘Common Shiplog’ with the knots on a line.
V-shaped brass plate incorporating register dials and engraved above the rotator Edw. Massey / LLL Patentee / London / 6082 -- 13in. (33cm.) long
LLL stands for "Log, Lead and Look out".
No box, no propellor