Description
Vintage Antique 8″ Weber World Globe
2.25 lb
14″x 9″ x 9″
The Class Room Educational Globe with no doubt has been abused.
Examined the images.
Description ID label:
8 inch Terrestrial Globe
By
Weber Costello Co.
Manufacturers of Globes
For Schools
Libraries and Homes
Chicago Heights,
ILL.
This is an antique terrestrial globe made by Weber Costello Co. in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The globe has a diameter of 8 inches and features a rotating design. It is a brown-colored globe from the 1930-40 time period, suitable for collectors of antiques and vintage maps.
The globe sphere itself appears to be made from papier-mâché, wood, or a similar lightweight core material, common in vintage globes. Over this core, there is a printed map, which would have been carefully segmented and applied using a technique known as globe gores.
- Gores: These are the curved triangular or oval-shaped sections of the map that are meticulously aligned on the globe’s surface to minimize distortion. These gores were typically printed on paper and adhered to the sphere.
- Surface Finish: The map appears to have a slightly glossy or lacquered finish, which would have been applied to protect the map from wear and give it a polished look. Older globes often had a thin layer of varnish or shellac to preserve the printed surface.
- Coloring: The colors used seem to be muted, indicating age or the use of early 20th-century printing techniques. Hand-coloring was common in globes before mass printing, but this globe likely uses a printed color map, judging by the uniformity of the shades.
Mounting and Axis
The globe is mounted on a tilted axis, which mimics the Earth’s axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees. The axis runs through the top (North Pole) and bottom (South Pole) of the globe.
- Axis Material: The axis rod is likely made from metal, possibly brass or steel, given its strength and thin profile.
- Pole Caps: The ends of the axis are capped with small decorative metal pieces to secure the globe and allow smooth rotation.
The Stand
The stand is an ornate and highly decorative piece, suggesting that this globe was designed for display rather than heavy classroom use. The intricate design points to influences from the Victorian or Art Nouveau periods, though it may have been produced slightly later.
- Material: The stand appears to be made of cast iron or cast brass, judging by the intricate design and the metallic sheen. Cast iron was commonly used for such globes due to its durability and ability to be shaped into elaborate forms.
- Design:
- The base features three clawed feet, a style often associated with early 20th-century decorative arts.
- The central column is ornately designed, with detailed embellishments and fluting. This design suggests that the globe was likely meant to be a prestigious decorative object, possibly for a study, office, or wealthy household.
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Functionality
- Rotational Mechanism: The globe is mounted in a way that allows it to rotate freely around its axis. This type of mounting is typical of terrestrial globes, which are designed to simulate the Earth’s rotation.
- Fixed Inclination: The stand holds the globe at a fixed inclination, representing the tilt of the Earth in relation to its orbit around the Sun.
Construction Process
The construction of this globe would have involved several key steps:
- Creating the Core: The core was likely made from papier-mâché, wood, or a similar lightweight material. It would be shaped into a perfect sphere and then smoothed.
- Printing the Map: The map would be designed in sections (gores) to fit the curvature of the sphere with minimal distortion.
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