Sextant used by Bill Virtue, an apprentice on the Adelaide Steamship Co. ship 'Manoora' in 1957Label on the book indicates that the sextant was examined by the National Physical Museum Kew observatory, Richmond Surrey England in 1901Sextant in timber box made around 1901 in the UK.Examined by National Physical Museum Kew Observatory Richmond Surrey Eng 1901sextant, navigation, 'manoora', adelaide steamship co, bill virtue

Unknown history but potentially off wrecked yachtPortable compass in metal case with glass front and spirit light compartment on left sidecompass, navigation

Roller bearing parallel ruler in timber case.navigation, drafting, instrument

William Thomson described a new "Marine Azimuth Mirror" at the 1877 meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and patented the design in Britain and the U.S. This instrument is an example of the improved design, with a reflecting prism in place of the original mirror. Thomson introduced this form in the early 1880s. The signature indicates that it was made during the period 1900-1913. A child prodigy, William Thomson went to university at the age of eleven. At twenty-two he was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy in Glasgow where he set up the first physics laboratory in Great Britain and proved an inspiring teacher. He primarily researched thermodynamics and electricity. On the practical side he was involved in the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable. He was also the partner of a Glasgow firm that made measuring instruments from his own patents.An instrument of significant importance which made marine navigation easier and more accurate in the early twentieth century.An Azimuth mirror with wooden box.Kelvin & Hughs Ltd Serial No - illegible Made in Great Britainazimuth mirror, william thompson, lord kelvin, naviagtion, marine instruments

A telescope in its own timber box.Turn this to change powertelescope, navigation

Bass Strait passenger ship Nairana. Built for Bass Strait ferry operator Huddart Parker & Co. Ltd. of Melbourne during World War One, the Nairana was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and completed as a seaplane carrier, HMS Nairana. Serving from 1917 to 1920 participating in the capture of Archangel during the Bolshevik Revolution. After 1920 she was decommissioned as a seaplane carrier and returned to her Australian owners crossing Bass Strait until she was laid up in 1948. Just off Port Phillip Heads on April 12 1936, a strong wave struck the Nairana, tipping her over for two minutes before she righted herself again. During the horrifying two minutes, four people were drowned, and eight people were injured. The ship was reportedly carrying roughly one tonne of concrete in the hull when she tipped. Reports from the local papers said that it was a tidal wave meanwhile others were saying it was either an earthquake or a total lie. A later paper said that the ship had been caught in a rip at the mouth of the bay, causing the tragedy. The S.S Nairana, was sold for £4,000 (over $170,200 in today’s money!) in 1951 after two years of being stranded on the beach at Port Melbourne, when the moorings broke one night during a storm and drifted ashore, causing her to wreck.Items associated with the TSS/HMS Nairana in its military and civilian roles and items relating to Capt. JF Spence, navigation Officer and possibly later the captain who sailed with the Nairana out of Plymouth after WWI. .01 Barometer and Clock from Dining Saloon .02 Commemorative plaque describing the HMS Nairana's WWI service with timber mount for plaque with information sheet attached. .03 Clock Key .04 Two 2 Log books owned by Capt. Spence containing the navigation calculations for the journey from Plymouth to Melbourne. .05 Huddart Parker hat badge [Capt. JF Spence].Barometer and Clock from dining saloon, TSS Nairana 1917 - 1951 Clock Key - 4 50-No9 Hat badge - HPtss nairana, wwi, bass strait, huddart parker, capt. spence

Formerly of Station Works, Wakering Road, Barking, Essex, Henry Browne & Son were important British compass makers. The company was founded in the nineteenth century in Barking and London. They were respected English instrument makers who made fine quality compasses, ships clocks, inclinometers, sextants and chandlery items for over 140 years. Their "Dead Beat" compass, which was well dampened to reduce oscillation, was fitted to many Allied ships during the Second World War. Sestrel was their famous Trade Mark brand. The company was sold to John Lilley & Gillie Ltd and SIRS Navigation, both UK companies, in 1993. Example of a hand held compass used in WWIIA Sestrel hand held bearing compass with wooden handle in own glass fronted, wooden container.Sestrel Henry Browne & Son Ltd Barking Londoncompass, navigation

8 cm compass Pattern 9628 in wooden boxCompass Patt 9628S Delicate instrument handle with care 287A/62compass, navigation

A round hand held navigational engineer compassEngineer Compassnavigation, compass

Various artifacts from the steamship 'Wattle'. The Steam Tug Wattle, a steel ship, was built as a harbor tug in 1933. Steam is supplied from a two-furnace Scotch Marine wet-back boiler which was originally fired with dewatered and filtered waste oil but has recently been converted to burn distillate for environmental and maintenance reasons. It was launched at Cockatoo Island on 27 June 1933 by Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co. Ltd. (CODECO) on order from the Commonwealth Shipping Board. Now fully restored it operates excursions in Port Phillip and the Yarra.Solar Reflector with spirit level in wooden boxst wattle, navigational intruments

Although the provenance cannot be confirmed it is believed that this lead possibly originated from the SS Time.Since at least the sixth century B.C. the sounding lead or sounding weight was in use in the Mediterranean area for maritime navigation. It is the oldest known marine navigational instrument and it remained a primary navigational aid in coastal waters and rivers well into the twentieth century.A sounding lead with rope line attached. One surviving leather fathom depth marker is spliced into the rope.sound lead, navigation

Representative of a piece of military equipment used in both world wars.Military type prismatic compass with hinged lid and rotating glass face with luminus markings allowing the instrument to be used for night navigation. Black metal construction.compass, military