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The Encyclopedia of Horology

London, England · died 1591

Humfrey Cole

Partially verified

Engraver and maker of brass mathematical and astronomical instruments

Life & work

Humfrey Cole was an English instrument maker and engraver who described himself as a native of the north of England.

He held employment at the Mint in the Tower and was also associated with professional prospecting and mining ventures. The maker produced a variety of sophisticated devices including astrolabes, armillary spheres, and ship's logs. His work was highly regarded by contemporaries such as Gabriel Harvey and patronized by figures like Edward Dyer.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • Cole undertook the production of various scientific instruments described in the 1571 Pantometria of Leonard and Thomas Digges.
  • He is credited with innovation in the field of navigational technology through his design of a ship's log.

Documented works

  • Numerous specimens of his brass astronomical and mathematical instruments are currently held by the British Museum.
  • Cole engraved a notable map of Palestine for the second edition of the Bishops' Bible published in 1572.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

6 catalogued objects are recorded under Humfrey Cole. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

Diagram

12345let downstripcleanoilregulateorder of work; never skip letting down the mainspring
Schematic: order of work at the bench. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Humfray Cole, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  2. Christopher Schutz, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.