One of the great joys of traveling is trawling through street markets and small shops, hidden away in back streets, in search of unique souvenirs of your trip. They can reflect the unique culture and produce of the land you’re visiting, or perhaps represent the artifacts used in times gone by.
Reflecting centuries of exploration and travel, antique traveler’s instruments can be found all over the globe, and make a fascinating subject to study and collect. Start to search them out and you’ll soon be marveling at their beauty and functionality
1. Barometers
Barometers have been in use since they were invented in Italy, the mid-1600s. As they respond to changes in atmospheric pressure, they can predict short term changes in the weather. This made them indispensable for travelers. The oldest barometers used mercury or water, but from the mid-19th century these were replaced by aneroid versions, with their familiar clock-like faces and movable hands which indicate changes, typically: stormy, rain, change, fair, and dry.
They’ve now been largely superseded by digital tools, but there are many handsome barometers for sale, whether antique or high-quality reproductions of actual working designs, which make great wall decorations. And warn you when it’s going to rain.
2. Telescopes
It was Galileo Galilei, in 1610, who created a telescope that was able to magnify distant objects to 30 times their size, and from that time, they have remained an essential tool for navigators.
Antique telescopes are desirable not only for their beauty but also their functionality. From full-scale nautical telescopes to more compact table-top models they are a wonderful item to collect and use.
Again, as more sophisticated materials and engineering have evolved, antique models are not so widely used nowadays, but fine examples in wood and brass can be unearthed all over the world.
3. Compasses
Whether on ships or in traveler’s backpacks, it’s almost impossible to imagine a time when it was possible to undertake long journeys or explore the seas without a navigational magnetic compass. Since their invention, it is believed, by Chinese scientists in the 11th or 12th century they’ve always been an indispensable guide for travelers and explorers.
They can be found in a huge range of styles and materials – one of their joys is that, no matter how old, they’ll still function today as well as they did 100 years ago. If you decide to add compasses to your collection, it’s worth knowing the stamps of the best manufacturers, and being careful to avoid authentic-looking reproductions.
4. Astrolabes
Astrolabes are a fascinating astronomical device used for measuring the position of stars to assist with navigation, pinpoint latitude, tell the time, define the time of year, and measure objects on the horizon. There are records of them being in use for over two thousand years. The simplest ones were a simple brass disc with seemingly esoteric markings, although spherical astrolabes also came into use later. Many major museums house spectacular collections, gathered from all over the world, but more modest examples, perhaps discarded as they’ve fallen out of use, can still be discovered if you are lucky enough.
5. Sextants
Sextants were used to calculate latitude and longitude by measuring the angle of the sun, moon, and stars relative to the earth. Even today, with all the advances that modern technology has to offer, they are still used on ships, because when all else fails, as long as you have the skills and the relevant tables, a sextant will accurately pinpoint your location. Once you start collecting them, you’ll find they’ve played a key role in creating a rich history of navigation and exploration. Each brass sextant is a beautiful and complex piece in its own right, with knobs, sliding parts, lenses, mirrors and magnifying glasses, and its own story to tell.
6. Sandglasses
Sandglasses, or hourglasses, were used by travelers for centuries, to measure time accurately. On Magellan’s voyage around the world, 18 sandglasses were used to calculate times for the ship’s log, and a junior was employed to keep turning them over. In all shapes and sizes, and cased in wood or metal, the basic design of the hourglass has remained largely unchanged. They can be unearthed, often under layers of dust, in junk shops and specialist antique fairs. Once polished and restored to their original beauty make wonderful decorative collectibles, each with its own story to tell.
These are just a few of the tools used by travelers over the centuries. Once you start your collection, you’ll inevitably be drawn to learn more about their fundamental role in shaping today’s world.
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