Antique Architectural Graphometer. Santi. Marseille, France. 19th Century, Circa 1840

Antique architectural graphometer Santi made in Marseille, France in the 19th century (circa 1840). This beautiful instrument, designed for topographic measurements, is in really good condition though being more than 150 years old. The graphometer includes a compass and bears the hand-engraved inscription Santi Opticien a Marseille (Santi Optician in Marseille). The company A. Santi was founded in the French city in 1830 to produce optical, marine and geodesic instruments. The quality of their instruments made them get 1st-class medals in the universal exhibitions of Paris, Marseille and London. This gorgeous graphometer is a good sample of their instruments excellence. The device is displayed on a square base of solid wood, stable and in very good condition, on which the set of brass moving parts that make up the graphometer is mounted. Over the vertical mast we can see the limb or semicircle divided in 180 degrees and two rulers, a fix one (the diameter) and the mobile one or alidade. The semicircle mounts an original compass in perfect condition and a bubble level. The graphometer is crowned by a small telescope which makes it possible to watch faraway objects, although the vision is not clear. For its excellent condition and attractive design, this antique architectural graphometer by Santi will stand out in the best collection of old-time technical instruments.