My brief for this project was to design a model that could be used as a communication aid or as an interactive museum exhibition. I chose a Watkins & Smith Theodolite that was on display in the National Maratime Museum Greenwich as my focus for the project.
My intention was to take this rare and valuable artifact and replicate it to allow the viewer to be able to handle the theodolite and get a feel for how the original would of once bin used. The only way I could do this would be to produce as accurately as possible the movement, size and design of the Theodolite, unfortunately I couldn't gain access to the original on display so all my work had to develop from rough sketches first hand in the museum and photgraphs of the Theodolite on display through the cabinet.
I had to keep cost in mind at all times because the point of it being a usable, working replica had to be matched by the fact that if it ended up being very expensive to produce no museum would allow the public to handle the replica hence defeating the point of its production.
After many material considerations including using sheet brass, brass plating kits and various surface finishes I settled on a painted finish to try and replicate the Brass of the original. Taking into consideration part of my aim was to produce a cost effective replica it seemed the most suitable solution.
The aim was to replicate the original as closely as possible down to the details of the engraving including scale and manufacturers branding on the Theodolite.
The two hand wheels allow for rotation of the telescope around the vertical section and of the theodolite around the base just like the original artifact.
Techincal drawings I produced from notes and sketches taken from the National Maratime Museum, breaking the Theodolite down into all the individual components required to produce the model.
The original on display in the National Maratime Museum.
Intial mock up of components.
The telescope assembled.
Engraving detailed in the compass base.
