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EARLY 19TH CENTURY GUNNER’S
PERPENDICULAR OR LEVEL – ca. 1802-1819 - EXTREMELY FINE
ARTILLERY INSTRUMENT FROM THE NAPOLEONIC WAR ERA - MAKER
MARKED: This is an extremely fine example of
the "New Pattern" Artillery Gunner's Perpendicular, or
Level, manufactured during the first two decades of the
19Th Century, maker marked and bearing the
“Broad Arrow” British Army acceptance stamp. The “New
Pattern” designation was assigned with the introduction
of this instrument as it incorporated a spirit level as
a new feature which replaced the earlier use of a plumb
line.
This rare Gunner’s Perpendicular can be dated through
the recorded work history of the legible maker stamp,
“BERGE LONDON” indicating Matthew Berge. Berge was an
apprentice, of Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800), one of the
most celebrated eighteenth century scientific instrument
makers in England and owner of the largest workshop of
its kind in London, located at 119 Piccadilly and
employing over 50 craftsmen. When Ramsden died in 1800,
he willed his workshop and inventions – which included
the dividing engine, a means of measuring the increments
on navigational instruments – to Berge who by that time
was Ramsden’s shop foreman. Those instruments currently
under construction at the time of the transfer of
ownership were marked “BERGE LONDON late RAMSDEN”. Once
those pieces were completed, all subsequent pieces
produced under Berge’s ownership were marked as this
Gunner’s Perpendicular is marked, “BERGE LONDON” – a
style of marking believed to have begun no later than
1802 and ending with Berge’s death in 1819. In addition
to artillery implements, the shop produced such
instruments as theodolites (survey scope), sextants,
telescopes, and mechanical drawing sets.
As an interesting aside, in the collection of the
Smithsonian National Museum of American History is a
sextant identified as the very instrument owned and used
by Lt. John C. Fremont on his expedition to California
in the 1840’s. That sextant bears the maker’s stamp,
“BERGE LONDON late RAMSDEN”.
This Gunner’s Perpendicular bears the British Army’s
acceptance stamp, the “Broad Arrow”, indicating that it
passed inspection, however due to the excellent
condition in which it has survived the almost two
hundred years since its manufacture, this particular
implement likely did not see much service. This pattern
of Gunner’s Perpendicular would have been in service on
the battlefield as early as the Napoleonic Wars and our
War of 1812, and continued in service through such
historic conflicts as the Crimea War, the Zulu War, and
probably was in use with Chinese Gordon at Khartoum.
In the context of American History, this very pattern of
Gunner’s Perpendicular may well have been imported by
the Confederacy during our Civil War in conjunction with
the artillery pieces the South purchased from England.
One of the most sought after of the artillery
accessories, the Gunner’s Perpendicular is not only a
truly fine, high quality Ordnance implement, but it is
also one of the most rare – particularly one as early as
this specimen – as it is believed they were issued at a
rate of only one perpendicular for every six guns.
Employed when laying or positioning the guns, the
perpendicular was used to determine the high point of
the gun's base ring. That high point was then marked on
the gun with chalk for use in aiming the gun.
Measuring 4 ¾” high and 3 ½” across the feet, this
perpendicular is fabricated of heavy brass plate and is
complete with both steel feet, the sliding steel pointer
and the spirit level. The horizontal spirit level is
firmly attached with the original screws and is defect
free; the leveling bubble showing plainly in the glass
viewer. The pointer slides easily in the track that is
integral to the main plate and it still retains the
original fire blued finish with vibrant case colors.
The plate is legibly stamped “BERGE LONDON” and with the
British Army “Broad Arrow” acceptance stamp. The brass
retains a beautiful aged patina that has not suffered
from recent polishing.
Showing no signs of wear, this early Gunner’s
Perpendicular is in excellent condition and given the
date range of manufacture, is in as close to “like new”
condition as one could expect to find. One of the key
implements that are becoming increasingly difficult to
find, this Gunner’s Perpendicular would be a key
addition to a 19TH Century Artillery display
or collection. (0217) $3,500
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