Sledge-meter used on the Terra Nova Expedition, 1900-1910

Sledge-meter used on the Terra Nova Expedition, 1900-1910

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snow sledge odometer, patented, No.25318, by S. Smith & Son Ltd., 9 Strand, London, England 1900-1910. Used with the British Terra Nova Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913.

Details

Category:
Surveying
Object Number:
1914-111
type:
odometer
credit:
Terra Nova British Antarctic Expedition

Parts

Part of Sledge-meter used on the Terra Nova Expedition, 1900-1910

Part of Sledge-meter used on the Terra Nova Expedition, 1900-1910

Part of snow sledge odometer, patented, No.25318, by S. Smith & Son Ltd., 9 Strand, London, England 1900-1910. Used with the British Terra Nova Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913.

Object Number:
1914-111 Pt1
type:
instrument component and odometer
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Part of sledge odometer, British Antarctic Expedition, 1900-1910

Main part of snow sledge odometer, patented, No.25318, by S. Smith & Son Ltd., 9 Strand, London, England 1900-1910. Used with the British 'Terra Nova' Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913.

More

This sledge odometer was used on Captain Robert Scott’s (1868-1912) ill-fated Antarctic expedition (1910 – 1913). Scott’s expedition was beaten to the South Pole on 14th December 1911 by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Scott reached the South Pole on 17th January 1912, but he and his men died in March 1912 on the difficult journey back to their ship. This odometer would have been pulled behind a sledge and worked much like an odometer in a car. It gave an accurate measurement of how far had been travelled. This information was used alongside other tools like sextants, which calculate latitude, to try to accurately plot progress on a map.

Materials:
steel (metal) , wood (unidentified) , mahogany (wood) , aluminium (metal) , glass and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Object Number:
1914-111 Pt2
type:
instrument component and odometer
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum