Orrery planetary model by the Laing Planetarium Company, 1910-1920

Made:
1910-1920 in United States, Detroit and Michigan

Orrery patented 1897 (No.578,108 USA) and 1910 (No.958,139 USA) by Alexander Laing and manufactured by Laing Planetarium Company, Detroit, Michigan.

Dated to the early twentieth century, this planetary model was made by Laing Planetarium Company in Detroit, United States. Called an orrery, or more correctly a tellurium it is a demonstration model to show the motions of the Earth and Moon around the Sun. Such devices became popular during seventeenth century especially after Sir Isaac Newton published his universal theory of gravity. To reproduce the motions of the solar system this model uses hand driven pulleys with cords on a wooden pedestal stand. This type of model would have been commonly employed in schools or colleges where astronomy was being taught.

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1990-230
Materials:
stand, boxwood, plates & fittings, brass and scales, paper
Measurements:
overall: 17.32283 x 14.56693 x 13.97638 in.; 440 x 370 x 355 mm
type:
demonstration models, orreries, planetaria (models) and terrestrial globe
credit:
Trevor Philip and Sons Limited