Measuring & Mapping - Overview
Where, how far, and how much? People have invented an astonishing array of devices to answer seemingly simple questions like these. Measuring and mapping objects in the Museum's collections include the instruments of the famous—Thomas Jefferson's thermometer and a pocket compass used by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their expedition across the American West. A timing device was part of the pioneering motion studies of Eadweard Muybridge in the late 1800s. Time measurement is represented in clocks from simple sundials to precise chronometers for mapping, surveying, and finding longitude. Everyday objects tell part of the story, too, from tape measures and electrical meters to more than 300 scales to measure food and drink. Maps of many kinds fill out the collections, from railroad surveys to star charts.
"Measuring & Mapping - Overview" showing 657 items.
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Sisson Waywiser
- Description
- This waywiser has a wooden frame, and a dial of silvered brass with the usual scales, one for poles and furlongs and the other for miles. The "J. Sisson LONDON" signature refers to Jonathan Sisson (c. 1690–1749) or his son, Jeremiah Sisson (1720–1783).
- A waywiser consists of a large wheel that can roll along a level surface, and a dial that registers the distance traveled. The wheel usually measures 8.25 feet in circumference, such that 2 revolutions are equal to 1 pole. The larger hand on the dial makes one sweep per mile (320 poles or 8 furlongs). The shorter hand indicates the number of miles traveled. Waywisers became popular in England in the 18th century, and were still in use in the United States in the late 19th century. They were was also known as perambulators.
- Ref: Jane Insley, "Odometer," in Robert Bud and Deborah Warner, eds., Instruments of Science (New York and London, 1998), pp.423–424.
- maker
- Sisson, Jonathan
- ID Number
- PH*336995
- catalog number
- 336995
- accession number
- 1979.0217
- catalog number
- 1979.0217.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Draper Wye Level
- Description
- This level was made by Edmund Draper in Philadelphia, and dates from around 1870. The inscriptions read "E. Draper. Philad" and "294."
- maker
- Draper, Edmund
- ID Number
- PH*337021
- accession number
- 1977.1101
- catalog number
- 1977.1101.39
- 337021
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Surveyor's Compass
- Description
- This compass may date from the fourth quarter of the 18th century. Although the bar holding the vertical sights is straight and narrow, the face reads counterclockwise. The needle rim is graduated to single degrees, and numbered in quadrants from North and South.
- ID Number
- PH*337072
- catalog number
- 337072
- accession number
- 1980.0012
- catalog number
- 1980.0012.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Wye Level
- Description
- This "Convertible Level" is based on the patent (#1,234,520) for a combined level and transit granted on July 24, 1917, to Adolph Wissler (1866–1926), the St. Louis instrument maker who made many of the surveying instruments sold by Aloe. With the telescope in its standard position, it is a standard architect's level. With the telescope turned 90 degrees, it can be used to take vertical sights. The small horizontal circle is graduated to degrees, and read by vernier to 5 minutes. The level is provided with a metal trivet for setting up the instrument in places where the use of a tripod is difficult. The level is marked "A. S. Aloe Co. St. Louis 90607" and "PAT. 7-24-1917." New, it cost $75.
- Ref: A.S. Aloe Co., Instruments and Supplies for Civil Engineers, Architects, Surveyors (St. Louis, about 1919).
- patentee
- Wissler, Adolph
- maker
- A.S. Aloe and Company
- ID Number
- PH*337201
- patent number
- 1234520
- accession number
- 1979.0584
- catalog number
- 1979.0584.01
- 337201
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Beckmann Wye Level
- Description
- This level is complex and unusual. With the telescope in its standard position, it can be used as a standard architect's level. With the telescope turned 90 degrees from its standard position, it can be used to measure horizontal angles. To effect this, the telescope is turned so that the level is on top and a metal fitting falls below. There is some resemblance between this level and A. S. Aloe's Convertible Level. The signature reads "THE L. BECKMANN CO. TOLEDO, O. U.S.A 9065."
- Louis Beckmann (1845–1914) was born in Germany. He arrived in the United States in 1870, settled in Toledo, Ohio. in 1874, and built his first dividing engine in 1878. A second dividing engine was designed in 1900, and yet another was begun in 1912. In a catalog, unfortunately undated, Beckmann wrote: "As the plates of my instruments are divided on one of the very best dividing engines of this country I can guarantee their graduation to be exact and accurately centered, both verniers reading the same." Sears, Roebuck advertised surveying instruments signed "L. Beckmann Co." during the period 1909–1911. Louis Beckmann Jr. continued manufacturing instruments until 1945, and repairing them until 1951.
- Ref: L. Beckmann, Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of Civil Engineers' and Surveyors' Instruments (Toledo, Ohio, n.d.).
- Charles Smart, The Makers of Surveying Instruments in America Since 1700 (Troy, N.Y., 1962), p. 6.
- maker
- L. Beckmann Co.
- ID Number
- PH*337207
- accession number
- 1979.0635
- catalog number
- 1979.0635.01
- 337207
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Foster Surveyor's Vernier Compass
- Description
- James Foster Jr. (1814-1873) began advertising as a mathematical and philosophical instrument maker in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1846. He showed his wares at several fairs sponsored by the Ohio Mechanics Institute in the 1850s. This compass belonged to Indiana State University. The rim is graduated every 30 minutes. The vernier on the north arm is moved by rack and pinion, and reads to single minutes. There is a circular level on the south arm. The signature reads "James Foster, Jr. Cincinnati, O."
- maker
- Foster, Jr., James
- ID Number
- PH*337208
- catalog number
- 337208
- accession number
- 1979.0649
- catalog number
- 1979.0649.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Balch Surveyor's Compass
- Description
- The paper card on this wooden compass is marked "THOS H. BALCH Maker State Street NEWBURYPORT." The signature refers to Thomas H. Balch (1771-1817) who advertised in the Newburyport [Massachusetts] Herald for August 8, 1806, that his shop could be found under the Sign of the Mariner's Compass. Like many artisans, Balch did not make every part of every instrument that carried his name. From research in local records, Martha Fales found that a local cabinet maker named George Short made the boxes for Balch's nautical compasses.
- Ref: Martha G. Fales, "Makers of Mariners' Compasses in Newburyport," American Neptune 28 (1968): 144-145.
- maker
- Balch, Thomas H.
- Short, George
- ID Number
- PH*337209
- catalog number
- 337209
- accession number
- 1979.0260
- catalog number
- 79.260.1
- 1979.0260.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Kern Theodolite
- Description
- Heinrich Wild designed this DKM2 (a double-circle theodolite with an optical micrometer) for Kern in the 1930s. Like the T2 manufactured by Wild in Heerbrugg, the DKM2 is a lightweight instrument with a steel frame. The horizontal and vertical circles are glass, and read directly to single seconds. The telescope is equipped with stadia wires, and so can be used for tachymetry. An auxiliary eyepiece lying alongside the telescope allows the user to read either circle without moving away from the station. Here, however, the 2 scales are read through the optical micrometer with reference to a centrally located index, giving the arithmetic mean of 2 diametrically opposed points on the circle. In 1955, an instrument of this sort, with tripod, cost $1,221. This example is marked "Kern AARAU SUISSE SWITZERLAND No 81066 DKM2." It was probably made in the 1960s, and it came to the Smithsonian in 1979.
- Ref: Kern & Co., Ltd, Double Circle Theodolites (about 1959).
- maker
- Kern & Co.
- ID Number
- PH*337212
- catalog number
- 337212
- accession number
- 1979.0809
- catalog number
- 1979.0809.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Young Transit
- Description
- This transit marked "Wm. J. Young Maker" and "3192" and "Philadelphia" was made in the early 1850s, soon after William J. Young began putting serial numbers on his instruments. The horizontal circle is larger than the compass box, silvered, and graduated every 30 minutes of arc. The two opposite verniers are on a beveled edge; one reads to single minutes, and the other reads to 1/100 of a degree. The tangent screw that moves the plates is at the south side of the horizontal plate. Level vials are at north and west.
- maker
- Young, William J.
- ID Number
- PH*337244
- catalog number
- 337244
- accession number
- 1979.0861
- catalog number
- 1979.0861.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
White Surveyor's Compass
- Description
- Peregrine White (1747–1834), a namesake and direct descendant of the first European child born in Cape Cod Harbor in 1620, was a clockmaker in Woodstock, Connecticut. This compass probably dates from around 1800. Like the Lamb compass in the collection, the vertical sights fold down when not in use. Like the Harland compass, this one has no direction letters and so can be read either clockwise or counterclockwise. There is a level vial on each arm. The face is marked "PEREGRINE WHITE Woodstock."
- Ref: Silvio A. Bedini, Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers (Washington, D.C., 1964), pp. 47–48.
- maker
- White, Peregrine
- ID Number
- PH*388993a
- catalog number
- 388993a
- accession number
- 182022
- catalog number
- 388993
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center