Paget Angle Sextant

The sextant has a black-lacquered alloy frame consisting of two circular plates, the upper having an ivorine overlay. There is a wooden handle to be screwed in the lower plate. There is no tangent or clamping screw and the index arm is moved by hand. The instrument has no shades. Index- and horizon-glass adjustment is made by screws. The sight vane has one pinhole mounted within the frame.

The instrument has an ivorine scale on the upper plate with black marking from 0° to 90° to 0° by 30 arcminutes. The scale is read by a black indicating line in an ivorine index mark at the end of the index arm.

The sextant is contained in a fitted wooden box and the lid is lined with green textile.

The Paget sextant was designed around 1892 and brought on the marker by H. Hughes and Son.

Object Details

ID: ACO1357
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Surveyor's Sextant
Display location: Not on display
Creator: T. Cooke and Sons Ltd
Date made: circa 1920
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Compass Observatory
Measurements: Overall: 46 mm; Diameter: 114 mm
Parts: Paget Angle Sextant