Baleen – definition

Baleen, Plastic of the 18th Century

Baleen comes from a suborder of whales, Mysticeti, which includes, among others, humpback whales, gray whales, right whales and blue whales. What sets these whales apart is baleen. These whales do not have teeth, but have upper jaws filled with two rows of baleen plates fringed with fine baleen hair. These plates are so closely aligned that they act like a comb or a sieve; whales pull water [...] Click here to continue reading.


Category: boxes, clocks & watches, crafts & folk art, miscellaneous, music, native american, nautical, optical, science & technology, silver & gold, textiles & clothing, tools & measuring devices |

Thomas Greenough – American Instrument Maker

Thomas Greenough was born in Boston in 1710, and also died in Boston, 1785. His instruments can be found at the Peabody Essex Institute, Franklin Institute, South Natick Historical Society, Old Sturbridge Village, Western Reserve Historical Society and Bucks County Historical Society. He came from a family active in the maritime trades. His father was a shipwright, his brother a sail maker and his son Thomas, Jr., was also an instrument maker.


Category: optical, surveying & compasses |

Heisley, George – Instrument Maker

George Heisley (1789-1880) was the son of Fredrick Heisley, also a clock and instrument maker. A flute player, he is credited as having selected the song “To Anacreon in Heaven” as the music to the words of “The Star Spangled Banner”, while serving in the Pennsylvania State Militia, defending Baltimore.


Category: optical, surveying & compasses |

Fitz, Henry Jr.

Henry Fitz Jr. (1808-1863)

An early experimenter and businessman in the art of the photography, Henry Fitz Jr. of Baltimore opened the first daguerreotype portrait studio in Maryland in the summer of 1840 at 112 Baltimore Street.

Little is know of Fitz’s early commercial photographic work as he is best known to photographic historians through his association with Alexander Wolcott and John Johnson. The latter two collaborated in the development of the Wolcott camera, [...] Click here to continue reading.


Category: optical, photographica |

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