General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

78

Total Parts

81

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

WOOD (MAHOGANY VENEER, PINE); VELVET; METAL; PAPER

Dimensions

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

Length

39.3 cm

Width

23.2 cm

Height

9.2 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Exploration and Survey

Category

Survey equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

DRAWING INSTRUMENTS PRESUMABLY USED C. 1840S-C. 1900. SOME INDIVIDUAL PIECES MAY HAVE BEEN USED EARLIER.

Canada

MARCUS SMITH WAS BORN IN NORTHUMBRIA, ENGLAND IN 1831 AND WORKED ON THE CONSTRUCTION & SURVEY OF EARLY BRITISH RAILWAYS. HE EMIGRATED TO CANADA IN 1849 AND WORKED ON THE GREAT WESTERN AND NIAGARA & DETROIT RIVER RAILWAY (UNTIL 1860) AND INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY (RESTIGOUCHE, NB DISTRICT) (1868-72); FROM 1872-86 SMITH WORKED FOR THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, & WAS ACTING CHIEF DURING THE ABSENCE OF SIR SANFORD FLEMING (1876-78). HIS LAST POST WAS AS A CONSULTING ENGINEER TO THE CANADIAN GOV'T. (1886-92) MARCUS SMITH DIED IN 1901. (REF.1)

Function

SPECIALIZED INSTRUMENTS COLLECTED TOGETHER TO FORM A "KIT" FOR USE IN DRAFTING, DRAWING AND/OR MEASURING, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OR WHEN TRAVELLING.

Technical

LARGE & VARIED COLLECTION OF DRAWING, DRAFTING & MEASURING INSTRUMENTS, MOST OF WHICH WERE 'ASSEMBLED' TO FORM A KIT. SOME OF THE INSTRUMENTS MAY PRE-DATE 1800: SEE DETAILED INVENTORY IN SUPP. INFO. ALL BELIEVED USED BY MARCUS SMITH: HE MAY HAVE ACQUIRED SOME OF THE INSTRUMENTS AS 'USED' OR 'SECOND-HAND'.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"M. C. Smith" engraved in metal plate on case top. " [crown logo]/ CHUBB'S/ NEW PATENT/ 143611/ 97 ST. PAUL'S [CNYd ?]/ LONDON" stamped into top edge of lock [mechanism].

Missing

appears complete

Finish

.78-.81 case, with 3 removable trays (.79-.81) mahogany veneer; pine and possibly other woods; blue velvet lining in .78-.79, .81, and all trays have blue velvet lining on base (to protect items stored in main section of case bottom; metal plate inset in top of case; metal lock, hinges & other minor fittings. Drop-down panel in case lid (interior) is paper backed.

Decoration

N/A