Mr. Kwan:

I know practically nothing about scientific instruments from the time period
you are interested in, but I have recently read "Longitude" by Dana Sobel, a
book about John Harrison and his sea clocks that were the first practical
means of calculating longitude at sea, during the mid 18th century (a great
book, by the way).  The author credits several institutions that helped her
research, particularly the National Maritime Museum in London, England; the
Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, also in London (they both hold examples
of Harrison's clocks), and in her acknowledgements she thanks William J. H.
Andrewes, the David P. Wheatland Curator of the Collection of Historical
Scientific Instruments at Harvard University.  The book was published in
1995, so Mr. Andrewes may not still be in that position, but it would appear
that contacting Harvard U. might be worth your while.

Good luck!


Tim McShane, Collections Manager
West Parry Sound District Museum

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