J Cail ofNewcastle had 2 premises 61,Pilgrim street &45,Quayside Newcastle on Tyne,and this is were this was sold to a ship maker it would have spent its life building ships still in good working conditions.
Spirt levels only came it to industery in the late 1700 about
17800,but this one as you can see has a brass plate running along the base ,the earlyer ones didn't have anything on they are the first generation,the brass plate was applied beacuse of ware.The makers came to realise that over time wtih top use and ware it needed to sit level ,so a brass plate was applied,makeing second generation.John was a Mathematical& Philosophical instrument maker &Optician.
If you inspect this master pice of around 1840s,the screws on the top are brass &he as used steel on the base,don't for get they had to hand make the screws at this time and raw materials were expensive.
The ships then had sails,and the wood that was used is rosewood which comes from India .So this instrument would have been a kings ransome.
The brass plates hand beaten to the right thickness screws all hand made ,the brass plates hand drilled 16 of them,and then countersunk to accept the screws 16 times plus fashion the top plate to see the bubble.
The wood haveing such a long journey ,it would have been very elitist to have owned this instrument,and now it can be yours with all its history.
There is slso a name on each end hard to make out but nice to find out who owned it.
Good hunting.Keith.
Ps.if you need advice on levels
I am your man.
Product code: J Cian Spirt 12 " inchLevel second grearation.Newcastle on top tyne England.