Measuring & Mapping

Vernier Compass

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.

Place: District of Columbia

Engraving of fish species "Otolithus drummondii"

William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of the fish species Otolithus drummondii [Richards] after original sketches by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia.
Description (Brief)
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of the fish species Otolithus drummondii [Richards] after original sketches by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The engraving was printed as Plate 6 in “Ichthyology of the Boundary” by Charles Girard (1822-1895), published in Volume 2, Part 2 of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Description
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Otolithus drummondii [Richards]”, now "Cynoscion nebulosus" or Spotted seatrout, from an original sketch likely drawn by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 6 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1859
original artist
Richard, John H.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
printer
Wendell, Cornelius
author
Emory, William H.
publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior
author
Girard, Charles
publisher
U.S. Army
ID Number
2009.0115.075
catalog number
2009.0115.075
accession number
2009.0115

Engraving of frog species "Batrachyla longipes, Heloecetes clarii, Ylarana fusca, Acris archeta"

William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print ofdifferent reptile species after original illustrations by John H. Richard (c.1807-1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 37 in “Reptiles of the Boundary” by S.F.
Description (Brief)
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of
different reptile species after original illustrations by John H. Richard (c.1807-1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 37 in “Reptiles of the Boundary” by S.F. Baird (1823–1887), published in Volume 2, Part 2 of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C. The species illustrated include: “Batrachyla longipes [Baird], Heloecetes clarkia [Baird], Hylarana fusca [Baird], and Acris archeta [sic] [Baird]," now "Eleutherodactylus longipes" (common names Long–footed frog, Long–footed robber frog, or Longfoot robber frog), "Pseudacris clarkia" (common names Clark’s tree frog, Clark’s striped tree frog, or Spotted chorus frog), Hylarana fusca [Baird], and "Acris gryllus" (common name Cricket frog).
Description
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Batrachyla longipes [Baird], Heloecetes clarkia [Baird], Hylarana fusca [Baird], and Acris archeta [sic] [Baird]," now "Eleutherodactylus longipes" (Long–footed frog, Long–footed robber frog, or Longfoot robber frog), "Pseudacris clarkia" (Clark’s tree frog, Clark’s striped tree frog, or Spotted chorus frog), Hylarana fusca [Baird], and "Acris gryllus" (Cricket frog); from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 37 in the “Reptiles” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by S.F. Baird (1823–1887). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1859
author
Baird, Spencer Fullerton
original artist
Richard, John H.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
printer
Wendell, Cornelius
author
Emory, William H.
publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Army
ID Number
2009.0115.061
catalog number
2009.0115.061
accession number
2009.0115

Engraving of fish species "Belone scrulator"

William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of fish species, "Belone scrulator [Grd]," after an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia.
Description (Brief)
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of fish species, "Belone scrulator [Grd]," after an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The engraving was printed as Plate 13 in “Ichthyology of the Boundary” by Charles Girard (1822-1895), published in Volume 2, Part 2 of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Description
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Belone scrulator [Grd]”, now "Strongylura marina" or Atlantic needlefish, from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 13 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, which was written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1859
publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior
original artist
Richard, John H.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
printer
Wendell, Cornelius
author
Girard, Charles
Emory, William H.
publisher
U.S. Army
ID Number
2009.0115.058
catalog number
2009.0115.058
accession number
2009.0115

Engraving of fish species "Ictiobus tumidus, Pytchostomus albidus, Luxilus leptosomus"

William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of three fish species after original sketches by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia.
Description (Brief)
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of three fish species after original sketches by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The engraving was printed as Plate 19 in "Ichthyology of the Boundary” by Charles Girard (1822-1895), published in Volume 2, Part 2 of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C. The fish species illustrated include: Ictiobus tumidus [Grd], Ptychostomus albidus [Grd], and Luxilus leptosomus [Grd].
Description
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Ictiobus tumidus [Grd], Ptychostomus albidus [Grd], and Luxilus leptosomus [Grd]”—now "Ictiobus bubalus" (Smallmouth buffalofish), "Moxostoma albidum" (Longlip jumprock), and "Notemigonus crysoleucas" (Golden shiner or Golden shiner minnow); from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 19 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1859
publisher
U.S. Army
author
Girard, Charles
original artist
Richard, John H.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
printer
Wendell, Cornelius
author
Emory, William H.
publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior
ID Number
2009.0115.067
catalog number
2009.0115.067
accession number
2009.0115

Engraving of fish species "Caragnus esculentus, Doliodon carolinus, Chorinemus lanceolatus, Chloroscombrus cambraeus, Argyreiosus capillaris, Vomer setapinnis"

William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of a fish species after an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia.
Description (Brief)
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of a fish species after an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The engraving was printed as Plate 1 in “Ichthyology of the Boundary” by Charles Girard (1822-1895), published in Volume 2, Part 2 of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C. Species represented in the engraving include:
Figs. 1- 3 - Caragnus esculentus [Grd], Fig. 4 - Doliodon carolinus [Grd],
Fig. 5 - Chorinemus lanceolatus [Grd], Fig. 6 - Chloroscombrus carribaeus [Grd], (Atlantis bumper), Fig. 7 -- Argyreiosis capillaris [De Kay], and Fig. 8 - Vomer setapinnis [Grd]; now "Oligoplites saurus" (Leatherjacket).
Description
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Caragnus esculentus [Grd], Doliodon carolinus [Grd], Chorinemus lanceolatus [Grd], Chloroscombrus carribeaus [Grd], Argyreiosis capillaris [De Kay], and Vomer setapinnis [Grd]; now "Oligoplites saurus" (Leatherjacket), "Trachinotus carolinus" (Florida pompano), "Oligoplites saurus" (Leatherjacket), "Chloroscombrus carribaeus" (Atlantic bumper), and "Selene setapinnis" (Atlantic moonfish or horsefish); from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 11 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1859
original artist
Richard, John H.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
printer
Wendell, Cornelius
author
Emory, William H.
publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior
author
Girard, Charles
publisher
U.S. Army
ID Number
2009.0115.080
catalog number
2009.0115.080
accession number
2009.0115

Geodetic Transit

This transit marked "USC&GS No. 18" was designed by E. G. Fischer, chief mechanician of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. It is one of two identical instruments that were built in the Survey's instrument shop in 1888–1889.
Description
This transit marked "USC&GS No. 18" was designed by E. G. Fischer, chief mechanician of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. It is one of two identical instruments that were built in the Survey's instrument shop in 1888–1889. They were said to be "the most complete and best constructed transits the Survey has ever had for longitude." They had about the same optical power as the transits that Troughton & Simms had made in the 1840s, but weighed substantially less. When packed in two boxes for transportation, each instrument weighed "only" about 350 pounds. John Clacey made the objective lenses, and Edward Kahler made the eyepieces.
G. N. Saegmuller, who offered an apparently identical instrument for $900, termed it a "Coast Survey Transit. No. 30" and noted that the Survey used instruments of this sort "for time observations only."
Ref: Edwin Smith, "A Description of Two New Portable Transit Instruments for Longitude Work," Report of the Superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey for 1889 (Washington, D.C., 1890), Appendix No. 9.
G. N. Saegmuller, Descriptive Price–List of First–Class Engineering & Astronomical Instruments (Washington, D.C., 1903), p. 75.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PH.316661.01
accession number
226636
catalog number
316661

Gradienter

This instrument is signed "Geo. Shilling Washn D.C." and "15. U.S.G.S." It was made after 1882 when George Shilling went into business, and before 1907, when the U.S. Geological Survey transferred it to the Smithsonian.
Description
This instrument is signed "Geo. Shilling Washn D.C." and "15. U.S.G.S." It was made after 1882 when George Shilling went into business, and before 1907, when the U.S. Geological Survey transferred it to the Smithsonian. The horizontal circle and vertical arc are silvered, graduated to 30 minutes, and read by verniers to single minutes. A trough compass and level vial sit atop the telescope; a circular level sits on the horizontal circle, obscuring most of Shilling's signature.
George Shilling (1844–1917) was born and educated in Norway and moved to the United States in 1867. In 1882, after working in several American instrument shops, he went into business on his own as a manufacturer of surveying and astronomical instruments. His shop was in Washington, D.C., and the federal government was his biggest customer.
Ref: Historical and Commercial Sketches of Washington and Environs (Washington, D.C., 1884), p. 194.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Shilling, George
ID Number
PH.247908
catalog number
247908
accession number
47736

U.S. Standard Decalitre (Ten Liters, a Metric Volumetric Measure)

After the1866 legalization of metric units of measure in the United States, the Office of Weights and Measures prepared standard metric weights and measures for distribution to the states. This brass cylinder holds ten liters or one decaliter. The stamp on the front reads: U.S.
Description
After the1866 legalization of metric units of measure in the United States, the Office of Weights and Measures prepared standard metric weights and measures for distribution to the states. This brass cylinder holds ten liters or one decaliter. The stamp on the front reads: U.S. (/)DECALITRE (/) No.35. It was transferred to the Smithsonian by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards, the successor of the Office of Weights and Measures.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1870
maker
United States Office of Weights and Measures
ID Number
CH.309584
catalog number
309584
accession number
103830

Gradienter

This gradienter marked "Geo. Shilling Washn D.C." and "U.S.G.S. No 4" was made after 1882 when George Shilling began in business, and before 1907 when the U.S. Geological Survey transferred it to the Smithsonian.
Description
This gradienter marked "Geo. Shilling Washn D.C." and "U.S.G.S. No 4" was made after 1882 when George Shilling began in business, and before 1907 when the U.S. Geological Survey transferred it to the Smithsonian. The horizontal circle and vertical arc are silvered, graduated to 30 minutes, and read by verniers to single minutes. A level vial sits atop the telescope; a circular level sits on the horizontal circle, obscuring most of Shilling's signature.
George Shilling (1844–1917) was born and educated in Norway and moved to the United States in 1867. In 1882, after working in several American instrument shops, he went into business on his own, manufacturing surveying and astronomical instruments. His shop was in Washington, D.C., and the federal government was his biggest customer.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Shilling, George
ID Number
PH.247907
catalog number
247907
accession number
47736

Theodolite

Marked "Fauth & Co. Washn D.C.," this seems to be a smaller and somewhat simpler version of the Altitude–Azimuth instrument that Fauth & Co. showed at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 and featured in many of their publications.
Description
Marked "Fauth & Co. Washn D.C.," this seems to be a smaller and somewhat simpler version of the Altitude–Azimuth instrument that Fauth & Co. showed at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 and featured in many of their publications. It was made between 1874 when Fauth began in business, and 1887 when Saegmuller began putting serial numbers on Fauth instruments. It belonged to the School of Mines, the program in science and engineering at Columbia College (now University). The horizontal and vertical circles are silvered, graduated to 10 minutes of arc, and read by micrometer microscopes to single minutes. An advertisement for this particular instrument has not been found. A similar instrument—with 10 inch horizontal circle read by 3 microscopes, and 18 inch telescope—cost $850.
Ref: Fauth & Co., Catalogue of Astronomical and Surveying Instruments (Washington, D.C., 1877), pp. 24–26.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fauth & Co.
ID Number
PH.334950
catalog number
334950
accession number
317998

Theodolite

This 8–inch theodolite was "especially adapted for triangulation." The "FAUTH & CO. WASHN D.C. No 1993" inscription indicates that it was made between 1887, when Saegmuller began putting serial numbers on Fauth instruments, and 1905, when Fauth & Co. went out of business.
Description
This 8–inch theodolite was "especially adapted for triangulation." The "FAUTH & CO. WASHN D.C. No 1993" inscription indicates that it was made between 1887, when Saegmuller began putting serial numbers on Fauth instruments, and 1905, when Fauth & Co. went out of business. The edge of the horizontal circle is beveled, graduated, and read by opposite micrometer microscopes to single seconds. It belonged to the University of Missouri at Columbia. New, it cost $450.
Ref: George N. Saegmuller, Descriptive Price–List of First–Class Engineering & Astronomical Instruments (Washington, D.C., 1892), p. 50.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fauth & Co.
ID Number
PH.333630
catalog number
333630
accession number
300659

Gradienter

This unusual instrument is probably best described as a precise level with a graduated horizontal circle. The telescope is provided with a long and graduated level vial, and an ingenious clamp and tangent screw moving against the silvered vertical arc controls its elevation.
Description
This unusual instrument is probably best described as a precise level with a graduated horizontal circle. The telescope is provided with a long and graduated level vial, and an ingenious clamp and tangent screw moving against the silvered vertical arc controls its elevation. This arc extends 20 degrees either way, and is graduated to 10 minutes and read by vernier to 20 seconds. The horizontal circle is silvered, graduated to 15 minutes, and read by opposite verniers with reflecting glasses and magnifiers to 30 seconds. A trough compass and a circular level are mounted above the horizontal circle. The signature reads "Wm. Würdemann, Washington, D.C. 565."
The U. S. War Department transferred this instrument to the Smithsonian in 1931, in a pine box marked "Capt. M. C. Meigs, Washington Aqueduct -Wurdemann--Grading Transit--1854." It was used by Montgomery C. Meigs, the captain in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers who was tasked with surveying the course of a new Washington Aqueduct in 1853. Since William Würdemann was the leading mathematical instrument maker in Washington at that time, it is reasonable that he was asked to make instruments for this important task.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1854
maker
Würdemann, William
ID Number
PH.310299
accession number
115960
catalog number
310299

Wye Level

This small level was made between 1874, when Fauth & Co. began in business, and 1878, when the U. S. Coast Survey became the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Since no instrument of this type appears in the Fauth catalogs, it was probably a special-order item.
Description
This small level was made between 1874, when Fauth & Co. began in business, and 1878, when the U. S. Coast Survey became the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Since no instrument of this type appears in the Fauth catalogs, it was probably a special-order item. The signature reads "FAUTH & CO. MATH. INST MAKERS. WASH'N D.C." and "U.S.C.S. No. 31."
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fauth & Co.
ID Number
PH.309652
catalog number
309652
accession number
106954

Non-ductile Tungsten Lamp

Thomas Edison and others considered element number 6, carbon, ideal for lamp filaments in part because it has the highest melting point of any element. Element number 74, tungsten, has the next highest melting point but it then existed only as a powder.
Description
Thomas Edison and others considered element number 6, carbon, ideal for lamp filaments in part because it has the highest melting point of any element. Element number 74, tungsten, has the next highest melting point but it then existed only as a powder. Attempts to make it into a workable form failed until early in the 1900s when a burst of invention occurred in Europe. A pressing technique called "sintering" (squeezing a material into a dense mass) was adopted by several inventors.
The most commercially successful design proved to be that of Dr. Alexander Just and Franz Hanaman of Austria. Their work on sintering tungsten was based on a prior sintering process developed by Carl Auer von Welsbach for his filament made of osmium. Just and Hanaman made a tungsten and organic paste, squirted it through a die, baked out the organic material, then sintered the tungsten in a mix of gasses. The resulting filament gave about 8 lumens per watt and lasted 800 hours.
Another Austrian, Dr. Hans Kutzel, used an electric arc to make a tungsten and water paste. He then pressed, baked, and sintered the tungsten in a manner similar to Just and Hanaman's procedure. Yet another pair of Austrians, Fritz Blau and Hermann Remane, adapted the osmium lamp process (they worked for Welsbach) by making a filament from an osmium and tungsten mix. They soon changed their "Osram" lamp filament to tungsten only. (The German word for tungsten is wolfram.)
All three filaments were brittle and collectively known as "non-ductile" filaments. Individual filaments could not be made long enough to give the proper electrical resistance, so lamps needed several filaments connected end-to-end. U.S. companies quickly licensed rights to all of the non-ductile patents. This particular lamp was made under license by General Electric and sent to the National Bureau of Standards for use as a standard lamp.
Lamp characteristics: Medium-screw base with glass insulator. Five single-arch tungsten filaments (in series) with 5 upper and 8 lower support hooks. The stem assembly features soldered connectors, Siemens-type press seal, and a cotton insulator. Tipped, straight-sided envelope with taper at neck.
Date made
ca 1908
date made
ca. 1908
maker
General Electric
ID Number
1992.0342.16
catalog number
1992.0342.16
accession number
1992.0342

Dumpy Level

The U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Precise Level "is constructed without regard to cost, extreme accuracy being the governing consideration.
Description
The U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Precise Level "is constructed without regard to cost, extreme accuracy being the governing consideration. This fact accounts for the seemingly high price, which is for the complete instrument, with two achromatic eye–pieces, graduated and chambered level–vial having a value of 2 seconds per division. Completed packed, with extra heavy tripod...$300." Thus wrote G. N. Saegmuller, proprietor of Fauth & Co., describing the Precise Level that had been developed by E. G. Fischer and his colleagues in the Instrument Division of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. This example, marked "FAUTH & CO. WASHN. D.C. 2239" was made between 1900, when the form was introduced, and 1905, when Fauth went out of business. It belonged to the University of Missouri at Columbia.
To minimize changes due to temperature variation, Fischer's team developed an iron–nickel alloy with a very low coefficient of expansion. They also placed the telescope tube within a slightly larger tube, and sealed the openings between the tubes with chamois leather collars. To minimize disruptions caused by changes in weight or pressure upon the ground, Fischer's team mounted the level above the telescope. A mirror, mounted above the level, reflects an image of the bubble into a tube at the left side of the telescope. Thus, while the surveyor's right eye looks through the telescope to the distant rod, his/her left eye can see both ends of the level vial.
The Fischer level was Fauth's third precise level. The first was similar to the instrument that Kern had shown at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition held in Philadelphia. The second, unveiled in 1879, was based on a design originating in Vienna, Austria, and developed in the Instrument Shop of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, which was then under Saegmuller's direction.
Ref: E. G. Fischer, "Description of Precise Levels Nos. 7 and 8," Report of the Director of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (1900), Appendix 6.
George N. Saegmuller, Descriptive Price–List of First–Class Engineering & Astronomical Instruments (Washington, D.C., 1903), pp. 60–61.
Randall Brooks and Heather Bajdik, "Precise Levels in Surveys of North America," Rittenhouse 10 (1996): 48–57.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fauth & Co.
ID Number
PH.333634
catalog number
333634
accession number
300659

Standard Tungsten Lamp

Irving Langmuir received a Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1906 from the University of Göttingen. He studied under Walther Nernst, who had invented a new type of incandescent lamp only a few years before.
Description
Irving Langmuir received a Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1906 from the University of Göttingen. He studied under Walther Nernst, who had invented a new type of incandescent lamp only a few years before. In 1909 Langmuir accepted a position at the General Electric Research Laboratory in Schenectady, New York. Ironically, he soon invented a lamp that made Nernst's lamp (and others) obsolete.
Langmuir experimented with the bendable tungsten wire developed by his colleague William Coolidge. He wanted to find a way to keep tungsten lamps from "blackening" or growing dim as the inside of the bulb became coated with tungsten evaporated from the filament. Though he did not solve this problem, he did create a coiled-tungsten filament mounted in a gas-filled lamp—a design still used today.
Up to that time all the air and other gasses were removed from lamps so the filaments could operate in a vacuum. Langmuir found that by putting nitrogen into a lamp, he could slow the evaporation of tungsten from the filament. He then found that thin filaments radiated heat faster than thick filaments, but the same thin filament–wound into a coil–radiated heat as if it were a solid rod the diameter of the coil. By 1913 Langmuir had gas–filled lamps that gave 12 to 20 lumens per watt (lpw), while Coolidge's vacuum lamps gave about 10 lpw.
During the 1910s GE began phasing-in Langmuir's third generation tungsten lamps, calling them "Mazda C" lamps. Although today's lamps are different in detail (for example, argon is used rather than nitrogen), the basic concept is still the same. The lamp seen here was sent to the National Bureau of Standards in the mid 1920s for use as a standard lamp.
Lamp characteristics: Brass medium-screw base with skirt and glass insulator. Two tungsten filaments (both are C9 configuration, mounted in parallel) with 6 support hooks and a support attaching each lead to the stem. The stem assembly includes welded connectors, angled-dumet leads, and a mica heat-shield attached to the leads above the press. The shield clips are welded to the press. Lamp is filled with nitrogen gas. Tipless, G-shaped envelope with neck.
Date made
ca 1925
date made
ca. 1925
ID Number
1992.0342.23
accession number
1992.0342
catalog number
1992.0342.23

Sextant

This sextant is inscribed "J. Nixon. Commercial Road. London" and "U.S.
Description
This sextant is inscribed "J. Nixon. Commercial Road. London" and "U.S. NAVY 8608." It was probably made by the John Nixon who worked in London from 1850 to 1869, and advertised as a "Real Maker of Mathematical Instruments." The silvered scale is graduated every 15 minutes from -5° to +125° and read by vernier with tangent screw and magnifier to 15 seconds of arc.
This sextant may have been lent to the U.S. Navy for use during World War I. It came to the Smithsonian in 1930.
Ref: Gloria Clifton, Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 (London, 1895), p. 201.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1900
date made
1850-1869
maker
Nixon, John
ID Number
PH.309888
accession number
110828
catalog number
309888

Gradienter

This instrument is marked "Geo. Shilling Washn D.C." and "U.S.G.S." It was made for the U.S. Geological Survey, and transferred to the Smithsonian in 1907. The horizontal circle and vertical arc are silvered, graduated to 30 minutes, and read by verniers to single minutes.
Description
This instrument is marked "Geo. Shilling Washn D.C." and "U.S.G.S." It was made for the U.S. Geological Survey, and transferred to the Smithsonian in 1907. The horizontal circle and vertical arc are silvered, graduated to 30 minutes, and read by verniers to single minutes. A level vial sits atop the telescope; another level vial sits on the horizontal circle. The inside of the lens cap is marked "U.S.G.S. No 2."
George Shilling (1844–1917) was born and educated in Norway and moved to the United States in 1867. In 1882, after working in several American instrument shops, he went into business on his own, manufacturing surveying and astronomical instruments. His shop was in Washington, D.C., and the federal government was his biggest customer.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Shilling, George
ID Number
PH.247906
catalog number
247906
accession number
47736

Heliotrope (Telescopic)

This instrument consists of a refracting telescope surmounted by a round mirror that can reflect a beam of light along the optical axis of the telescope. A screw base allows it to be attached to a tree or post.
Description
This instrument consists of a refracting telescope surmounted by a round mirror that can reflect a beam of light along the optical axis of the telescope. A screw base allows it to be attached to a tree or post. Fauth advertised a heliostat of this sort in 1877, describing it "As made by us for the United States Coast Survey." This example was made before 1887 when G. N. Saegmuller began putting serial numbers on Fauth instruments. New, it cost $30. The U. S. Geological Survey was established in 1879 and transferred this instrument to the Smithsonian in 1907. The inscriptions read "FAUTH & CO. WASHN D.C." and "U.S.G.S. No 6."
Ref: Fauth, Catalogue of Astronomical and Surveying Instruments (Washington, D.C., 1877), p. 43.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fauth & Co.
ID Number
PH.247922
catalog number
247922
accession number
47736

Theodolite

The horizontal circle of this theodolite is silvered, graduated to single minutes, and read by opposite verniers with magnifiers to single seconds. The vertical circle is silvered, and read by single vernier and magnifier. The inscription reads "Wm. Würdemann, Washington, D.C.
Description
The horizontal circle of this theodolite is silvered, graduated to single minutes, and read by opposite verniers with magnifiers to single seconds. The vertical circle is silvered, and read by single vernier and magnifier. The inscription reads "Wm. Würdemann, Washington, D.C. No 163." William Würdemann (1811-1900) was a precision instrument from Germany who began working in Washington in 1834.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid-nineteeth century
maker
Würdemann, William
ID Number
PH.316530
accession number
225703
catalog number
316530

Pocket Compass

This compass is made of aluminum. The raised rim is graduated to 30 minutes, and numbered every 10 degrees from north and south. The southern half of the face has a clinometer scale, extending ± 90 degrees, and graduated to 30 minutes. The signature reads "FAUTH & CO. MATH.
Description
This compass is made of aluminum. The raised rim is graduated to 30 minutes, and numbered every 10 degrees from north and south. The southern half of the face has a clinometer scale, extending ± 90 degrees, and graduated to 30 minutes. The signature reads "FAUTH & CO. MATH. INST. MAKERS WASH’N, D.C."
The compass belonged to the noted American geologist, Charles Doolittle Walcott (1850-1927), and may be the one mentioned in his paper of 1888. Walcott had joined the U.S. Geological Survey in 1879, and became Director of that organization in 1894. In 1907 he was named Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. One inscription on the back of the compass reads: "C. D. WALCOTT U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON D.C. AUGUST 1894." Another reads: "SECRETARY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 1907."
Ref.: C. D. Walcott, "A Simple Method of Measuring the Thickness of Inclined Strata," Proceedings of the United States National Museum (1888): 447-448.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fauth & Co.
ID Number
2001.0276.01
accession number
2001.0276
catalog number
2001.0276.01

Theodolite

G. N. Saegmuller described this as a "Four inch Theodolite, As furnished to the U. S. Government Surveys," and priced it at $300. This example was made after 1887 when Saegmuller began putting serial numbers on Fauth instruments, and before 1905 when Fauth & Co.
Description
G. N. Saegmuller described this as a "Four inch Theodolite, As furnished to the U. S. Government Surveys," and priced it at $300. This example was made after 1887 when Saegmuller began putting serial numbers on Fauth instruments, and before 1905 when Fauth & Co. went out of business. The U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey transferred it to the Smithsonian in 1929. The horizontal and vertical circles are silvered, and read, with opposite verniers and magnifiers, to 30 seconds. The inscriptions read "FAUTH & CO. WASHN D.C. No 966" and "U.S.C.&G.S. No. 160."
Ref: George N. Saegmuller, Descriptive Price List of First Class Engineering & Astronomical Instruments (Washington, D.C., 1903), p. 41.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fauth & Co.
ID Number
PH.309664
catalog number
309664
accession number
106954

Stenometer

William J. Peters of the U. S. Geological Survey devised this type of instrument in 1898, while doing reconnaissance work in Alaska. G. N.
Description
William J. Peters of the U. S. Geological Survey devised this type of instrument in 1898, while doing reconnaissance work in Alaska. G. N. Saegmuller, proprietor of Fauth & Co., explained its function: "Having a fixed base of known dimensions defined by targets, the measurement is made by bringing the images of the targets together by moving the halved objective by means of a micrometer screw." The Geological Survey transferred this example to the Smithsonian in 1907, reporting that "Distances up to 1 or 2 miles can be determined with sufficient accuracy for reconnaissance work."
This is actually a composite instrument. The prism monocular was probably made by Bausch & Lomb in Rochester, N.Y., according to the design developed by Zeiss in Jena, Germany, while Saegmuller made the divided object glass micrometer. It is notably different from the stenometer that Saegmuller was offering in 1901, and so is probably an early prototype. The words "U.S.G.S. No. 4" are scratched onto its surface.
Ref: George N. Saegmuller, Descriptive Price-List of First-Class Engineering & Astronomical Instruments (Washington, D.C., 1901), p. 108.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fauth & Co.
ID Number
PH.247921
catalog number
247921
accession number
47736

Theodolite

This theodolite was made for the U. S. Geological Survey, soon after that agency was organized in 1879. It was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1907. The inscriptions read "No. 172 Edward Kübel, Washington, DC" and "U.S.G.S. 8 IN No.
Description
This theodolite was made for the U. S. Geological Survey, soon after that agency was organized in 1879. It was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1907. The inscriptions read "No. 172 Edward Kübel, Washington, DC" and "U.S.G.S. 8 IN No. 1." The horizontal circle is silvered, graduated to 20 minutes, and read by opposite verniers and magnifiers to 20 seconds. The vertical circle is silvered, graduated to 20 minutes of arc, and read by vernier and magnifier to single minutes.
Edward Kübel (1820-1896) was born in Bavaria, moved to Washington, D.C. around 1849, and became foreman for William Würdemann. He began in business on his own in 1875, advertising that he "continues to manufacture the class of Astronomical and Geodetical Instruments formerly made by Mr. Würdemann." According to an account written in 1884, Kübel employed seven or eight skilled workmen, and his business was principally for the U. S. government.
Ref: Silvio Bedini, "Edward Kübel (1820-1896) Washington, D.C. Instrument Maker," Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 85 (1998): 247-279.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1879-1896
maker
Kübel, Edward
ID Number
PH.247971
accession number
47736
catalog number
247971

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