General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

53

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

BRASS, WOOD/ Case pt: wooden case has brass hinges & lock fitting mahogany inner tray

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

22.0 cm

Width

5.3 cm

Height

3.4 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Mining and Metallurgy

Category

Mineral exploration

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Letcher

Country

England

State/Province

Cornwall

City

Truro

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

C.1880S+

Canada

Presumably used in Ontario, but also exemplary of blowpipes sets used in North America at the time.

Function

USED TO PERFORM CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.

Technical

19th c. blowpipe set for mineral prospection. This 'Best' set is more elaborate, containing a variety of chemicals & test minerals. It was used by Alfred Gillies for the analysis of rock samples (presumably in Ont.) This type of small, simple, & portable kit was very popular with geologsts & others 1880+

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

CASE: GREEN LABEL INSIDE LID INCLUDES DETAILED INVENTORY & DESCRIPTION, MFR'S INFO., AND PRINTED LOGO & SEAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES & COMMERCE. INSTITUTED AT LONDON, 1754. INCORPORATED BY ROYAL CHARTER, 1847. LABEL ALSO BEARS PRINTED NOTICE 'Awarded the SOCIETY OF ARTS SILVER MEDAL, and/ Col. CROLL'S Prize in International Competition, 1878.'. SEE TRANSCRIPT OF LABEL IN SUPP.INFO./ 'B.C.' INCISED BY HAND IN LID; 'B. Caldwell' PRINTED IN BLACK INK & HANDWRITTEN IN PENCIL ON UNDERSIDE OF CASE.

Missing

PLATINUM FOIL; MAGNESIUM RIBBON MISSING. AT LEAST 1 GLASS TUBE BROKEN

Finish

Blowpipe: lacquered brass with wood (teak?) mouthpiece/ Case: wood with lacquered finish; mahogany "rack" inside; brass hinges

Decoration

N/A