Octant, English, circa 1770

octant

Octant, bearing "Z. Wetzell, 1782" on plate, & newspaper clipping (8/1-no year given) relating to its discovery on Barnegat Peninsula by Archie Penn who gave it to Francis P. Freeman, Mayor of town of Island Beach, NJ. It is surmised that logwood octant was washed ashore from a wreck & lay buried in sand for more than 100 years. Not now visible, but reported in clipping is inscription: "Made by Ed Gilbert, Tower Hill, London, for Will Tillock, 4/28/1778." Wood frame, inlaid (bone?) nameplate engraved "* Z. Wetzell 1782 *"; scale inlaid (bone?), half missing; wood index arm w/ metal (brass?) end, vernier scale missing; index mirror & shades missing; horizon glass w/lever adjustment; back horizon glass & lever adjustment missing; sight vane, single peep; hole in brace for pencil; inlaid (bone?) note plate on back. English, circa 1770.