TISLEY, Samuel Charles (1829-1883) — London
Optician & globemaker. Produced Bardin’s new terrestrial globe 1856 and appears to have taken over the Bardin business at some point after the death of Elizabeth Marriott Bardin (see BME 2011) in 1851. As an instrument-maker, Tisley is particularly remembered for his harmonograph, an instrument for mapping sound vibrations, which he appears to have invented.
Born in London 7 Sep 1829 in St. Dunstan’s Workhouse, where his father was the master, and baptised 14 Oct 1829 at St. Dunstan in the West, the son of Samuel Tisley (1797-1878), and his wife Eliza Moor (1808-1891), who married in 1825. Recorded as a solicitor’s clerk in 1851, when living with his family in Chancery Lane, his father now the vestry clerk to St. Dunstan, but as an optician or globemaker in later records. Attended the London Mechanics’ Institution and was awarded a Society of Arts certificate in mechanics in 1856. Married Charlotte Elizabeth Rayner (1838-1928), his former housekeeper, at St. Paul Hammersmith 25 Jun 1871. Registered copyright in a number of drawings of elliptical and rectangular harmonic vibrations in April 1877. In partnership with George Spiller (1848-1918) in the 1870s, until the partnership was formally dissolved 25 Aug 1877. He died 26 Feb 1883 and was buried at Brompton Cemetery.
112 Chancery Lane (home) — 1851-1854
16 Salisbury Square — 1856
Gough Square (home) — 1856
39 Glasshouse Street, Regent Street — 1865
172 Brompton Road, Chelsea — 1872-1881
BNA. Census 1841-1851, 1871-1881. LG. NA. Tooley.
