Object Details
- Description
- This six-inch German silver instrument opens into a double "V" shape. It has a cylindrical handle, thumbscrews for removing the point attachments, and thumbscrews for adjusting the points. The legs may be fitted with any combination of a needle point, two lengthening bars, a pencil point, and a pen point. The second needle point is missing. The lengthening bars extend the compass horizontally to a width of 9-3/4", allowing the instrument to function as a beam compass.
- Almost all of the pieces are engraved with the number 60, except for the pen point and one lengthening bar, which are each engraved with the number 61. It is possible that some of the pieces have gotten mixed up with those catalogued with 1978.2110.04. A wooden case is covered with burgundy-colored leather and lined with black velvet.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Ruth A. Ming
- early 20th century
- ID Number
- 1978.2110.05
- accession number
- 1978.2110
- catalog number
- 336731
- Object Name
- compass
- compass, drawing
- Physical Description
- leather (overall material)
- steel (overall material)
- wood (overall material)
- german silver (overall material)
- velvet (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 17.7 cm x 10 cm x 2 cm; 6 31/32 in x 3 15/16 in x 25/32 in
- place made
- Germany
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Science & Mathematics
- Dividers and Compasses
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Drawing Instruments
- Record ID
- nmah_904404
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-3e29-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
