The Orrery

By Ginger Wentrcek

An orrery is a mechanical model of the sun and planets in our solar system with the planets moving around the sun with relative accuracy to each other. A complicated set of gears of various sizes are cut with precision to interlock with each other and move the planets, which are attached to long arms, around the sun. An orrery can include moons or represent a small part of our solar system.

History

Originally called a planetarium, George Graham and Thomas Tompion produced the first orrery of the modern era in 1704. In 1713, the 4th Earl of Orrery, Charles Boyle, commissioned John Rowley, a important instrument maker at that time, to use the designs of Graham and Tompion to build a planetary instrument for him.

Modern Orrery Makers - Staines & Son

Located in Mundford, England, the father-son team of Derek and Timothy Staines design and build custom brass orreries from scratch. Their work is of such exceptional quality that they have been admitted to The Heritage Crafts Association, an English advocacy body for heritage crafts which is presided over by HRH The Prince of Wales, who serves as president. There are so few orrery makers that the craft is listed in the HCA Red List of Endangered Crafts.

Search for an Orrery Maker

After a months-long internet search to find an orrery maker, Staines & Son stood out among all others and I am honored that they will build a Nine Planet Genesis Orrery for me, to be delivered in approximately 22 months. Needless to say, the delivery date can't get here quick enough.

Timothy Staines sent the following description to me: “The base of the orrery is 10" in diameter. The height of the orrery is approximately 19". The centre of Pluto will span to approximate 18" plus Pluto's moons so the total reach would be closer to 20". The Sun is turned from brass bar. The Earth is ink printed onto sandstone (I have these made for me) and the planets are painted wooden spheres which are necessary to keep the weight on the arms down to a minimum.” In other correspondence, Timothy said Venus will have a retrograde rotation.

When the project starts, I will start receiving photos to document the process which will be used to design a photo book as a keepsake. Derek and Timothy Staines will sign the book and I will send a book to them to keep.

Timothy Staines has graciously agreed to an interview for The Observer and it will appear in the Fall edition.

If you have a specific question you would like to ask Derek or Timothy Staines, send it to me (Ginger) and I will add your question to the interview.

Link: Staines & Sons Website

Link: Staines & Sons Facebook

The following images showcase some of their work.