Fine Early 66 Foot (4 Pole) LAND SURVEYOR (Gunter) CHAIN, DAVIS DERBY CHESTERMAN
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:72 |
Precious and Few! We are pleased to offer this wonderful land surveyor / Gunter chain 22 yards (66 feet) in length with all the heavy links intact and with swivel brass handles and with all 9 original individual brass tally tags, the center tally tag marked J. (James) C. CHESTERMAN, SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND (see photo #3) and both '4' tally tags each marked DAVIS DERBY (Photo #3), and both brass handles marked 4 P with the name DAVIS DERBY, early 1800s.
This is a fine..., early, and highly collectable land surveyor’s chain. It is very rare to find a chain marked with the name DAVIS DERBY. The story of the Davis of Derby family business is a fascinating one. The company was begun by Gabriel Davis in Leeds in 1779, during the reign of King George III. They were makers of precision optical, surveying and mathematical instruments. Gabriel's nephew John was born in Thame in Oxfordshire in 1810. He was initially apprenticed to J. Abrahams who was a Mathematical Instrument maker to the Duke of Wellington. After his apprenticeship John initially joined his uncle Gabriel in the Leeds business; however, following the completion of his apprenticeship John opened a number of small businesses around the country which were satellites of his uncle's business in Leeds, including two at London and Cheltenham. In 1830 he opened a shop in Derby and by 1833 had begun to sever links with his uncle's business to trade in his own right. This business eventually became Davis of Derby. By 1843 John was firmly established in Derby which was fast becoming an important engineering center owing to the advents of the Midlands railway network. During this time his brother Edward continued to work with his uncle in the Leeds branch of the business. So, this remarkably rare chain is the product of the business that John Davis established in Derby in the 1830 and 40s. It is exceptionally rare to get a chain impressed with the maker's name but this one also comes with the fascinating personal history of John Davis's evolution as an instrument maker in Derby. This chain was bought from Chesterman then resold with the DAVIS DERBY name added.
As you can see in the 12 photos provided, the "as found" condition is wonderful and totally complete. The wear from professional use can be seen on holes of the brass tally tags where they attach to the oval iron iron rings. This chain consists of 100 individual heavy gauge links (each measuring 0.1560 inches thick by a micrometer), each link connected by three oval iron rings (photo #6), all 9 brass tally tags (every 10 links) - each shaped to indicate partial chain measurements (photos # 2 & 8), three evenly spaced swivel links (photo #7) and two swivel brass handles, each marked 4 P (photo #4). This chain measures 66 feet in length which equals 4 ‘poles’ or ‘1 chain’. 66 foot chains are also called ‘Gunter’s chains’. Edmund Gunter of England initiated its common use for measuring land boundaries in the early 1600s. Early land survey records in the American colonies were also recorded in ‘chains’. chain by 10 chains = 1 acre. One mile = 80 chains. The use of the 66 foot chain was confined chiefly for land surveying because of its relationship with the acre.
This 'one of a kind' Chesterman surveyor / Gunter chain is in the best condition an early antique surveyor chain can be found! As you can see in the photos provided, this is a great surveyors chain. This chain is a keeper. Chesterman chains are difficult to date accurately because the manufacture used the same logo for more than a century. I would guess the date of this chain is circa 1830 - 1840. We are selling this historically fascinating Gunter chain WITHOUT RESERVE - so good luck with your bid. Go for this rare chain - if you are a discriminating collector or a land surveyor.
International Buyers – Please Note: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
This is a fine..., early, and highly collectable land surveyor’s chain. It is very rare to find a chain marked with the name DAVIS DERBY. The story of the Davis of Derby family business is a fascinating one. The company was begun by Gabriel Davis in Leeds in 1779, during the reign of King George III. They were makers of precision optical, surveying and mathematical instruments. Gabriel's nephew John was born in Thame in Oxfordshire in 1810. He was initially apprenticed to J. Abrahams who was a Mathematical Instrument maker to the Duke of Wellington. After his apprenticeship John initially joined his uncle Gabriel in the Leeds business; however, following the completion of his apprenticeship John opened a number of small businesses around the country which were satellites of his uncle's business in Leeds, including two at London and Cheltenham. In 1830 he opened a shop in Derby and by 1833 had begun to sever links with his uncle's business to trade in his own right. This business eventually became Davis of Derby. By 1843 John was firmly established in Derby which was fast becoming an important engineering center owing to the advents of the Midlands railway network. During this time his brother Edward continued to work with his uncle in the Leeds branch of the business. So, this remarkably rare chain is the product of the business that John Davis established in Derby in the 1830 and 40s. It is exceptionally rare to get a chain impressed with the maker's name but this one also comes with the fascinating personal history of John Davis's evolution as an instrument maker in Derby. This chain was bought from Chesterman then resold with the DAVIS DERBY name added.
As you can see in the 12 photos provided, the "as found" condition is wonderful and totally complete. The wear from professional use can be seen on holes of the brass tally tags where they attach to the oval iron iron rings. This chain consists of 100 individual heavy gauge links (each measuring 0.1560 inches thick by a micrometer), each link connected by three oval iron rings (photo #6), all 9 brass tally tags (every 10 links) - each shaped to indicate partial chain measurements (photos # 2 & 8), three evenly spaced swivel links (photo #7) and two swivel brass handles, each marked 4 P (photo #4). This chain measures 66 feet in length which equals 4 ‘poles’ or ‘1 chain’. 66 foot chains are also called ‘Gunter’s chains’. Edmund Gunter of England initiated its common use for measuring land boundaries in the early 1600s. Early land survey records in the American colonies were also recorded in ‘chains’. chain by 10 chains = 1 acre. One mile = 80 chains. The use of the 66 foot chain was confined chiefly for land surveying because of its relationship with the acre.
This 'one of a kind' Chesterman surveyor / Gunter chain is in the best condition an early antique surveyor chain can be found! As you can see in the photos provided, this is a great surveyors chain. This chain is a keeper. Chesterman chains are difficult to date accurately because the manufacture used the same logo for more than a century. I would guess the date of this chain is circa 1830 - 1840. We are selling this historically fascinating Gunter chain WITHOUT RESERVE - so good luck with your bid. Go for this rare chain - if you are a discriminating collector or a land surveyor.
International Buyers – Please Note: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
