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Elliptograph

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made in London

Postcard of Elliptograph.
000-180-000-991-C
© National Museums Scotland

Elliptograph

Designing an instrument which could draw small ellipses precisely occupied several inventors in the early 19th century, when this was required by draughtsmen wishing to show tilted circles in technical illustrations, or circles in perspective. John Farey (1791-1851) designed his 'Elliptograph' in about 1810, and was awarded a Gold Medal by the Society of Arts in 1812, when he presented his prototype together with a paper on its use.

Farey's instrument is made of brass, and consists of a frame of parallel rulers, within which are two brass circles of equal dimensions, which slide across each other. The small rack and pinions enable different sizes of ellipses to be drawn. This instrument is signed 'Farey, London. No. 17.', and it is known that they were retailed by the London instrument firms of W. & S. Jones, and William Harris.

John Farey was an engineering writer who began drawing plates of technical subjects for Abraham Rees's Cyclopaedia in 1805, when he was aged only 14. He subsequently went on to produce plates for other publications, notably Sir David Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia (1808-30).


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Online ID: 000-180-000-991-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0504: National Museums Scotland Part 2
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1969.16
Date: Around 1815
c. 1812
Material: Brass / shagreen covered case. Inscription: Farey, London
Dimensions: 5.88" x 5.31"; 1.38" x 6.25" x 6.00"
What: Elliptograph / drawing instrument / case
Subject: 19. MATHEMATICS (Departmental Classification)
Who: Farey (Inscribed on the instrument)
Where: England, London
Event:
Description: Elliptograph or drawing instrument, in a fitted case, made about 1812
References:
  • Farey, John. On the Elliptograph. Transactions of the Society of Arts 31 (1813), pp 117-130 and plates 4 and 5. 
  • Hambley, Maya. Drawing Instruments 1580-1980. London, 1988, pp 89-91. 
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