![[Americana.]](/_next/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg2.bonhams.com%2Fimage%3Fsrc%3DImages%252Flive%252F2006-09%252F22%252F7332891-4-1.JPG%26width%3D650&w=2400&q=75)
This auction has ended. View lot details
You may also be interested in
Lot 20
ASTRAL LANTERN. BAILEY, FRANKLIN. 1845-1914. Bailey's Astral Lantern. The New England School Furnishing Co., Boston, Mass., c. 1881.
21 September 2015, 13:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$6,875 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our History of Science & Technology specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Client Services (Los Angeles)
Client Services (New York)
Client Services (San Francisco)
ASTRAL LANTERN.
BAILEY, FRANKLIN. 1845-1914. Bailey's Astral Lantern. The New England School Furnishing Co., Boston, Mass., c. 1881.
Stenciled tin gas lantern with glass windows, 13½ x 13½ x 13½", east and west sides of lantern fitted with removable round tin plates, each plate fitted with a rolling printed celestial maps, north and south sides fitted with 12½" diameter circular celestial maps.
A wonderful apparatus used to teach astronomy. This Astral Lantern, which was invented in 1879 and patented in 1881 by Franklin Bailey, functioned as a sort of adjustable map of the heavens. When lit from within, it shows the stars in correct relative positions as they would appear in the sky (if visible). The movements of the maps were meant to keep pace with the apparent movement of the stars, thus enabling the student to not only learn the names of the stars and constellations, but also their positions in the heavens at each minute, their movement, as well as how to tell the time at night, the latitude of the position of observation, and the exact time of the rising and setting of each star.
Franklin Bailey's archive, including papers relating to this invention are housed at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan. Exhibited: Selections from the E. Buk Collection of Technology and Invention, Christine Burgin Gallery, NYC, October 29-December 18, 2004.
Stenciled tin gas lantern with glass windows, 13½ x 13½ x 13½", east and west sides of lantern fitted with removable round tin plates, each plate fitted with a rolling printed celestial maps, north and south sides fitted with 12½" diameter circular celestial maps.
A wonderful apparatus used to teach astronomy. This Astral Lantern, which was invented in 1879 and patented in 1881 by Franklin Bailey, functioned as a sort of adjustable map of the heavens. When lit from within, it shows the stars in correct relative positions as they would appear in the sky (if visible). The movements of the maps were meant to keep pace with the apparent movement of the stars, thus enabling the student to not only learn the names of the stars and constellations, but also their positions in the heavens at each minute, their movement, as well as how to tell the time at night, the latitude of the position of observation, and the exact time of the rising and setting of each star.
Franklin Bailey's archive, including papers relating to this invention are housed at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan. Exhibited: Selections from the E. Buk Collection of Technology and Invention, Christine Burgin Gallery, NYC, October 29-December 18, 2004.