Bessler portrait - hi-res

[Stewart]

Hi Ralph

The lamp like thing has been in quandary with me for years.

I think what you're referring to as a lamp is probably a sextant on a stand. It is drawn a bit strangely, but certainly has features in common with sextants.

Stewart

[ME]

At the ceiling there is something like an astronomical ring, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_rings
On the organ-side there's (I think) a compass N,E,W,S (or some other direction, not sure) (LeftTop,RightTop,LeftBottom,RightBottom); why does it seem to have two pendulums attached?

Sextant: But how does it function on such a small scale? (the one found here is from 1788-1804)
Astronomy stuff: http://www.scientificlib.com/en/Astrono ... ic_sextant

[AB Hammer]

Wow! Why I didn't see and say something earlier about the lamp like device. It is a balancing device, much like a bubble balancer for tires of today. So for wheel work it would becomes a very valuable tool.

Note it is in a cone shape not a pie slice shape. Here are some samples of bubble balancers


Alan

[daxwc]

ME:

At the ceiling there is something like an astronomical ring

It is an Alchemist sphere inverted.

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/amcl_astr ... erial.html

[daxwc]

http://www.besslerwheel.com/forum/viewt ... rant#69461

I believe it is a sextant sitting on a stand or an alignment quadrant. The picture is straight on, so it is hard to make out the stand, but you can see it in the reference picture (red arrow).

[AB Hammer]

Dax

I agree with you for the item on the wall. I believe we have 2 different things in this conversation. I am only referring to the item on the tripod on the work bench.

[AB Hammer]

Dax

For a sextant, it is missing a very important part, so I don't think so. The lower curved ends show more of a wraparound, showing it to be more a cone shape.

[daxwc]

Sextants and quadrants came in many shapes and styles some without eyepieces or the arm. Instead of an arm a plum bob would have been used. I can't tell you 100% it is a alignment quadrant, just seems likely to me.

Here is a copy of Bessler's estate for those that do not have it.

[ME]

daxwc: "It is an Alchemist sphere inverted.": That's the mystical explanation, I guess we basically point to the same thing.

AB Hammer, interesting and at least more useful than the closest image I could find that I think resembles this thing: an incense/charcoal burner.

[AB Hammer]

Dax

I didn't consider looking at the inventory but this may be where it is stated.

Number 18 spirit level of special invention.

This level uses bubbles for leveling. If a bubble balancer? a "spirit level of special invention" would be a proper description for the person taking the inventory may not of new it's real purpose.

Thanks for posting it for the new people here.

https://www.google.com/search?q=spirit+ ... hrRsWAM%3A

Alan

[ME]

I just found another interesting possibility - talking about a 'special spirit level'. (I still see fire there)
A handwarmer (for cold workshops) with a gimbal mechanism (not what I see in the image though)

Marchello E.

[John Collins]

I simply meant the globe didn't seem to be in the same tool-category as those used by a carpenter and organ maker.

JC

[John Collins]

Taking into account the apparent difference in style and possibly age of the faceless portrait, compared to his portrait, I wonder if the tools shown were all owned by Bessler. It seems to me he borrowed the picture for his own purposes. We don't know what they were and seeking confirmation of the nature of the tool's use by checking them off against his estate list might be misleading.

The presence of the organ and those tools might be Bessler demonstrating his knowledge of organ-building and the globe and other non-carpenter instruments showing off the breadth of his knowledge and interests.

If the faceless portrait did already exist, I'm sure he copied the dimensions including the position of the face so that he could use it as he did.

The only things I can think of that he might have used to help hide some information might be manipulation of the picture by either a mirror or his portable camera obscura.

JC

[daxwc]

JC:

Taking into account the apparent difference in style and possibly age of the faceless portrait, compared to his portrait, I wonder if the tools shown were all owned by Bessler.

I believe the tools were all owned by him, give me one tool which is there that he did not claim to have knowledge in. The presence of the air gun, clock and the organ pretty well solidifies the odds that the portrait was made for him unless he projected his whole career after someone else.

[daxwc]

JC Quotes:

I simply meant the globe didn't seem to be in the same tool-category as those used by a carpenter and organ maker.

Bessler demonstrating his knowledge of organ-building and the globe and other non-carpenter instruments showing off the breadth of his knowledge and interests.

That is the whole intended purpose of the portraits isn’t it. You accumulate all the skills and you turn the page and it makes the man. Cutting the face out reinforces the connection between both pictures.