000-100-102-707-C
© National Museums Scotland |
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Dividers
This pair of steel dividers, also known as a pair of compasses, were made in Europe in the 18th century. They are unsigned.
The legs of the dividers are triangular in cross-section, tapering to a point.
Dividers were used in chart-work for pricking out a course, or measuring out distances on a chart against the calibrations of linear measurement on the Mercator latitude scales found on sectors.
Record details
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| Online ID: |
000-100-102-707-C |
| Image Rights Holder: |
National Museums Scotland |
| Project: |
0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project |
| Ref: |
National Museums Scotland T.1966.73 |
| Date: |
18th century
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| Material: |
Steel
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| Dimensions: |
4.81" L overall
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| What: |
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| Subject: |
19. MATHEMATICS (Departmental Classification)
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| Who: |
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| Where: |
Europe
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| Event: |
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| Description: |
Steel dividers, with a two and one-leaf ball hinge with a steel hinge pin, and truncated-triangular section legs tapering to a point, Europe, unsigned, 18th century
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| References: |
- For dividers, see Turner, Anthony, Early Scientific Instruments 1400-1800. London: 1987, pp 154-5
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| Translations: |
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