W & S Jones Planetary Orrery dated 1794

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W & S Jones Planetary Orrery dated 1794:
$2600.00

This is a niceW&S Jones PlanetaryOrreryI have had on display in my home for many years. The hand colored paper face is signed by W & S Jones and dated 1794 (NOTE: I just heard from a knowledgeable collector that he believes this orrery was restored with a replacement paper card, arms and planets). This item was purchase about 20 years ago from a very reputable and well known Scientific Inst. dealer and there was no mention of restoration. After a close look I would agree I think the brass arms are replacements, however the planets and paper card look to have age to mebut I am no expert. There is a label on the underside that reads John Browne London, the Orrery measures 6 1/4 inches diameter. I doseewhat appears to be an old repair near 1 of the legs that did not damage the paper card, had not noticed it in all these years until now. Postage is $30.00if within the US, more if you are outside the USA; no charge for careful packing.

Here is someinformation on the firm of W. & S. Jones:

W. & S. Jones

1792-1860

The firm of \"W. & S.Jones\" was a partnership of two brothers, Samuel and William Jones,opticians, who worked at 135 Holborn in London, from 1792 to 1800, and at 30Lower Holborn from 1800 to 1860. They bought the copyright to the books of GeorgeAdams, and subsequently largely carried on the original business of the Adamsinstrument makers. The firm was also a successor to John Jones & Son.

WilliamJones (1763–1831) was an English maker of optical and other scientific instruments, he later formed a partnership with his younger brotherSamuel Jones (1769–1859). W. & S. Jones were among the most successfulscientific instrument makers in London during the late 18th and early 19thcenturies. In 1797 Jones introduced the box sextant or \'pocket sextant\' fornautical navigation, an early marvel of mechanical miniaturization. They werealso known for marketing globes by W. & T.M. Bardin.

W.& S. Jones published a smallbook in 1812, authored by W. Jones, The Description and Use of a NewPortable Orrery to promote and describe how to use three portable orreries.

According to some sources, Samuelbecame active about 1810. There exists an orrery that bears the name only of W.Jones. Perhaps W. Jones originally made, invented and sold the orrery (asstated in the cartouche), and the firm W. & S. Jones sold the model justwith the W. Jones name, as originally imprinted.

ThomasJefferson, the third president of the United States, was devoted to science asan avocation; according to records at Monticello, in 1792 Jefferson bought a\"New Portable Orrery\" from William Jones.