Early Nineteenth Century Cased Octant by John Crichton

An early nineteenth century octant by John Crichton

The octant is comprised of an ebony frame with a brass index arms and fittings. It has an inlaid bone scale and inlaid bone plates on the front and back of the frame. The front inlay is engraved with, “Crichton London and Made for G Peterhead”. The G and a further date of 1872 are both additions to the original plate perhaps to denote a new owner or to remove the previous owner’s name. Other Crichton octants from the period bear the words “Made for” or “Sold by” to denote an instrument specifically commissioned by an individual or for a retailer to sell on Crichton’s behalf. Given the range of places on his octants from North to South he must have been a prolific and well respected maker of these navigational instruments.

The frame retains its three shades, index glass and horizon glass.

John Crichton is listed as trading between 1831 and 1865 primarily trading from 112 Leadenhall Street, London where he advertised himself as instrument maker to the Honourable East India Company and to Trinity House. He was an exhibitor at the Great Exhibition of 1851 where he was awarded a prize medal for sextants and drawing instruments. The firm continued to trade beyond 1864 as John Crichton & Son