From the mid 1800’s to the 1960’s, slated globes were a popular tool for military and educational facilities to teach geography related subjects. The slate-like finish has the same properties as a chalkboard, allowing drawing on it with chalk. Before modern navigational instruments, Google earth and GPS, one had to learn the basic skills of geography, navigation and cartography to travel the world, even if just with your fingertips. This vintage educational instrument assisted by providing a surface to draw longitude and latitude, continents, countries and more. Based on design, constructions and time dial atop as well as on the bottom and raised relief WC inside the base indicates clearly this model had been produced by Weber Costello, one of the Great Chicago Globe makers in the early to mid 20 century. The artifact was then sold as a geographical educational tool by  the school supply company Yoder Instruments in East Palestine, Ohio. A great piece of Vintage Americana and fine antique scientific instrument. Description: The 12 inch diameter orb is constructed of pasteboard, skimmed with plaster and finished with a slate-like substance, providing the same surface as a chalk board. Mounted onto a cast iron base with ornate Victorian -  Art Nouveau details and beautiful copper-bronze finish.A time dial on top has the lettering WC and the logo of Weber Costello visible. The artifact stands 18 inches tall. Condition: Well preserved for being nearly 100 years old and having been exposed to a school environment. Sphere and base is free of cracks or corrosion. There’s some wear to the orb, it does show age and the slate finish may have been maintenance quite a while ago. There is chipping and ahairline crack to the slate finish to the orb, please see photos. This is a very heavy artifact due to the cast iron and plaster orb. Well packed, the artifact will ship domestic for $35.00, $75.00 world wide $625                            SKU 1014SLATEWC12