NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Bauer's book, was Re: Newton and Halley
From: Nicol�s de Hilster
Date: 2007 Nov 23, 18:05 +0100
From: Nicol�s de Hilster
Date: 2007 Nov 23, 18:05 +0100
Scott Owen wrote: > Mike, > I freely admit my knowledge of this subject as limited to what I have > read in CDR Bauer's book, "The Sextant Handbook" of which I hope the > good CDR does not mind me quoting rather liberally. As to whether or > not he is a reliable source I leave that to your opinion. IMHO he seems > to treat this subject fairly and objectively on pp 25-35. > > Today I read Bauer's book and took a copy of Chapter I (A Short History) with me. As most of you know by now I am specialised in the early history of navigation (1590-1700), researching mainly the wooden instruments (the astrolabe is the exception on that rule) before the octant arrived. Bauer starts off with the Polynesian latitude hook, giving his chapter a promising start (although he might have mentioned the use of hand/fingers for altitude measurements). He then continues with the Kamal (skipping the earlier Chinese version of that instrument), before going over to the astrolabe. It is from that point on were he misses virtually every aspect of the instruments that follow up to the nocturnal. So his ideas of the astrolabe, the cross-staff and backstaff/davis quadrant do not reflect proper research, even when taking in account the year he published his book (figures 1.7 and 1.8 even show us a Davis Quadrant with the horizon vane assembled in the wrong way). I could try to sum up the errors/omissions in his text, but that might take more words than he spent on those instruments in total. From the nocturnal on the text seems to be more consistent with history. There is also an increase in quotes showing that he did research that part more thoroughly. Nicol�s --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send email to NavList@fer3.com To , send email to NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---