The present globe is the only known scientific instrument published by Frost. Portable globes: made of paper or cloth with the ability to be folded down flat, and with a series of drawstrings at the poles in order to make the globe three dimensional, became hugely popular with the burgeoning middle-class of the early nineteenth century who wanted a teaching aid for their children, who might not have the money for a pocket globe by the likes of Newton and Cary.

William Frost (c1786-1841) a writing-master and teacher of arithmetic, astronomy and geography; worked in partnership with George Frost, probably his brother in Hackney. Publishing works such as "A new system of geography and astronomy" 1831; and "The Uranian guide, or an outline celestial atlas" 1832. Succeeded, in partnership with George Frost, to the business of Messrs Bourn and Butler, continuing "to attend schools and private families for astronomy, geography, writing, and arithmetic". He was recorded living in Hackney in 1841, with five children.

We are only able to trace one institutional example: The British Library, acquired by the Library in 1985, which includes an 11 page explanatory pamphlet.