Page 10 - JOA-July-22
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WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay
WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay
by Philip Hawkins and Mike McLeod
$5,901 (48 bids, 29 bidders): 1867 Antique John Davis
American Planet Solar System Heliotellus Vertical
Orrery. Over the years, we have had a few examples of antique
French orreries, but when we found this one, we knew it was
rare. After finally deciphering the partial paper label, we real-
ized this was a very rare, American-made, vertical orrery.
Constructed in Pittsburgh by John Davis, we were very excited
to find out just how rare this c. 1867 Heliotellus orrery was.
We could only find one other example on the internet, and it
is in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
This could be your one and only chance to ever own a John
Davis vertical orrery. This Heliotellus is a vertical mechanical
model of the inner solar system, which includes the sun,
Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and its Moon. This orrery was
made by John Davis in Pittsburgh in 1867. John Davis intro-
duced three astronomical demonstration devices: the
Planetellus, the Heliotellus, and the Lunatellus. John Davis’s
Heliotellus won first prize at the American Institute Fair of
1869.
This Heliotellus still has its original brass sun, and the three
planets Mercury, Venus (which is larger than the Earth), and
Earth; however, the moon that once rotated around the Earth
is missing. Also, Venus has separated at the seam and is missing
a small gear at the elbow that once allowed it to spin on its axis.
All three arms have a notch into the brass arm where gears
would fit and move the threaded center. When I manually
turn the key (which is a replacement and isn’t quite large
enough), all three arms spin, and the three planets rotate
around the large 8-inch diameter sun, as well as on their own
axis.
This orrery has a unique, three-leg, cast-iron base, with the
front leg much shorter than the others. It still retains most of
its original paper face with zodiac-divided areas.
Overall, this orrery measures 32 inches tall to the top of the
paper dial, and the fancy cast-iron legs measure 25 inches wide
by 12 inches deep. (Photos courtesy of eBay seller wwolst12.)
PH: An orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system, or
of just the sun, earth and moon, used to represent their rel-
ative positions and motions. It has previously been known as
a planetarium; modern clockwork versions are believed to
originate with George Graham (1674-1751), an English
watch and scientific instrument maker, under the patronage
of Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery around 1700, for whom
the devices are named.
An American, John Davis (1821-1903), served as a pro-
fessor of mathematics and astronomy at Allegheny City
College, principal of the Academy of Science, and President
of the Polytechnic Institute of Western Pennsylvania. He
obtained patents for several inventions including railroad car
brakes and tanning machines. The Smithsonian website
states: “About 1867 he introduced three astronomical
demonstration devices: the Planetellus (the sun with planets
and moons out to Neptune), the Heliotellus (sun with plan-
ets and moons out to the Earth), and the Lunatellus (sun,
earth, and moon). The Heliotellus won the first prize at the
American Institute Fair of 1869.”
The vertical orientation appears to be rare among
orreries as most are horizontally configured. I wasn’t able to
8 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles