Mile wheel
Moore (1730-1805)
Category
Machinery and industrial devices
Date
1720 - 1729
Materials
Mahogany, Brass, Glass
Measurements
1375 mm (Length); 400 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Ipswich
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1338945
Summary
Mahogany mile wheel (way-wiser) with four stylised spokes in a small wheel. Cased brass ornamental dial to lower shaft containing two dials measuring rods and furlongs, marked 'Moore Ipswich'. Dial has an inner hinged glass cover and an outer hinged brass cover. Painted on a spoke is '1720 - 1729'. In notebook no.5, page 108 (1340945.5) Charles Wade refers to: 'Large Garret no.91 Mile Wheel of Mahogany of good design and workmanship - the dial is signed Moore, Ipswich. Clockmaker 1720-29 a very interesting early specimen.' Includes sketch with dimensions. In Haphazard Notes Volume 1 (SNO.MISC.952.1) on page 119 Charles Wade writes about mile wheels and perambulators and refers to this example. 'MILE WHEEL or PERAMBULATOR used by SURVEYORS a single wheel pushed along by handle, with a dial which records distances. At SNOWSHILL a very good early example by MOORE, Clockmaker, Ipswich, 1720-1729'.
Provenance
Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Marks and inscriptions
Moore/Ipswich
Makers and roles
Moore (1730-1805)
References
Wade, 1944: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 5 Second Floor, 1944, Page 108