Science & Mathematics - Overview
The Museum's collections hold thousands of objects related to chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, and other sciences. Instruments range from early American telescopes to lasers. Rare glassware and other artifacts from the laboratory of Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, are among the scientific treasures here. A Gilbert chemistry set of about 1937 and other objects testify to the pleasures of amateur science. Artifacts also help illuminate the social and political history of biology and the roles of women and minorities in science.
The mathematics collection holds artifacts from slide rules and flash cards to code-breaking equipment. More than 1,000 models demonstrate some of the problems and principles of mathematics, and 80 abstract paintings by illustrator and cartoonist Crockett Johnson show his visual interpretations of mathematical theorems.
"Science & Mathematics - Overview" showing 18 items.
Page 1 of 2
Compass and Divider in Case
- 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 two needle points, two lengthening bars, and a pen point. The pencil 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 61, except for one needle point, one lengthening bar, and the pen point, which are each engraved with the number 60. A rectangular leather-covered case is lined with black velvet. A label on the bottom of the case is largely worn away, but it appears to have been marked: MADE IN GERMANY. Compare to 1978.2110.05.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- early 20th century
- ID Number
- 1978.2110.04
- accession number
- 1978.2110
- catalog number
- 336730
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Compass in Case
- 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
- date made
- early 20th century
- ID Number
- 1978.2110.05
- accession number
- 1978.2110
- catalog number
- 336731
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Eagle Pencil Company Model 569 Compass and Divider with Leads
- Description
- This metal instrument is held together by a screw at the top. A spring inside the mechanism below the screw allows the two legs to be squeezed together. The piece between the screw and spring is marked: EAGLE PENCIL CO. (/) NEW YORK (/) PATENTED. The legs are embossed with a floral pattern. Two needle points slide into slots at the end of each leg. One needle point is reversible and has a holder for a pencil lead at its other end. Compare to MA*304722.04, which is apparently an older version of this model. The mark refers to the patent Harrison Cole received in 1894 for a braking screw bolt that would help compasses or dividers remain set in position.
- A cardboard box is covered with green and white checked paper and a white label marked: EAGLE (/) COMPASS & DIVIDER (/) Pat. Dec. 11th 1894. Pat. Gt. Britain. (/) Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. & Canada. (/) NO. 569. (/) Manufactured by EAGLE PENCIL CO., New York, U.S.A. Two small aluminum tubes received with the instrument each hold five sharpened pencil leads.
- German immigrant Heinrich Berolzheimer opened Eagle Pencil Company as a pencil shop in New York City in 1856, with a factory in Yonkers. By 1880, the firm made mechanical pencils as well as pens and erasers. In 1969, the company changed its name to Berol Corporation, and the Empire Pencil Corporation purchased it in 1986.
- References: Harrison Cole, "Drawing Instrument" (U.S. Patent 530,680 issued December 11, 1894); "The History of Berol," http://www.berol.co.uk/berolhistory.html.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 20th century
- maker
- Eagle Pencil Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0933.17
- accession number
- 1981.0933
- catalog number
- 1981.0933.17
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Hairspring Compass with Lengthening Bar and Pen Point
- Description
- This metal compass has a cylindrical scrolled handle. The upper parts of the legs have decorative grooves on either side. A thumbscrew on one leg may be used to finely adjust the angle of the leg (hence, the name "hairspring"). The lower parts of the legs are hinged and are attached by screws so that the pencil point and needle point may be replaced by the pen point or lengthening bar contained with the instrument. Small thumbscrews on the needle, pencil, and pen points allow for fine adjustments.
- The donor of this object, William J. Ellenberger (1908–2008), studied electrical and mechanical engineering at The George Washington University between 1925 and 1934. He then worked for the Potomac Electric Power Company and the National Bureau of Standards. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was a civilian construction management engineer for the army from 1954 to 1968, when he became a private consultant. He may have acquired this instrument during his studies or early career.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- early 20th century
- ID Number
- 1981.0933.20
- accession number
- 1981.0933
- catalog number
- 1981.0933.20
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Keuffel & Esser Hairspring Compass
- Description
- This metal drawing instrument is heavily corroded. It has a cylindrical handle, grooves that allow the user to open the legs just a small amount, a thumbscrew adjusting the hairspring in the leg with the pencil point, and screws for adjusting the needle and pencil points. The legs are jointed, but they are too rusted to bend. The inside of the leg with the pencil point is marked near the top: KEUFFEL & ESSER N.Y.
- This instrument is advertised as model number 205 in K&E's 1881 catalog. It does not appear in the 1876 or 1892 catalogs. Gunther Mathies, a relative of the donor, emigrated from Germany in the early 20th century and worked for the Thomaston (Conn.) Clock Company. He also did photography, drafting, and surveying in the area during the Depression, and he may have acquired this object in the course of those endeavors.
- References: Michael Scott-Scott, Drawing Instruments (Aylesbury, England: Shire Publications Ltd., 1986), 5–6; Catalogue and Price-List of Keuffel & Esser Co., 9th ed. (New York, 1881); accession file.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1876-1892
- maker
- Keuffel & Esser Co.
- ID Number
- 1984.1070.03
- accession number
- 1984.1070
- catalog number
- 1984.1070.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Record Bow Compass
- Description
- This steel instrument has a pen point on one leg. Two screws adjust the width of the pen point and allow it to be removed. The needle point and its screw are missing from the other leg. A thumbscrew for adjusting the width of the instrument is outside the leg with the pen point. A cylindrical ridged handle is directly attached to a ring inserted into the legs. That leg is marked: RECORD. The object was received with several other instruments in a wooden box, 1984.1071.13.
- The mark may refer to the British brand of woodworking tools. The Record factory operated in Sheffield, England, from 1909 until about 2002, when its parent company was acquired by Newell Rubbermaid. The donor, Sebastian J. Tralongo (1928–2007), served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and then worked for the Vitro Corporation in Rockville, Md., for 35 years. He patented a device for signaling from deeply submerged submarines and assigned the rights to Vitro.
- References: "Tralongo, Sebastian James 'Subby'," Hartford Courant, May 26, 2007; Sebastian J. Tralongo, "Submarine Signal Device" (U.S. Patent 2,989,024 issued June 20, 1961); David Lynch, "Record Hand Planes: A History," http://www.recordhandplanes.com/history.html.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- mid 20th century
- ID Number
- 1984.1071.10
- accession number
- 1984.1071
- catalog number
- 1984.1071.10
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Record Bow Compass
- Description
- The pen and needle points (including its screw) are missing from this steel instrument. Because the pen point may be removed, this instrument is not like other bow pens in the collections. A disc for adjusting the width of the instrument is on a screw between the legs. A cylindrical ridged handle is directly attached to a ring inserted into the legs. The leg that would have the pen attachment is marked: RECORD. The object was received with several other instruments in a wooden box, 1984.1071.13. Compare to 1984.1071.10.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- mid 20th century
- ID Number
- 1984.1071.11
- accession number
- 1984.1071
- catalog number
- 1984.1071.11
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Intertech Bow Compass Sold by Hearlihy & Co.
- Description
- This blue zinc alloy instrument has a black plastic handle. Black plastic adjusting bolts set the width of the instrument and the length of the needle and pencil points. The front of the handle is marked with the letter H. The bolt on the silver metal bow screw is marked: MADE IN W. GERMANY – PATENT. A fitted clear and black plastic box has a black and white plastic tube with two replacement pencil leads. The top of the box is marked in gold: H (/) Hearlihy & Co (/) 504.
- Intertech Drawing Instruments (Zeichengeräte) of Brunn, West Germany, made this compass in 1987, according to the donor. The head of the firm, Günther Partes, received U.S. patents in 1979 for a compass with a toothed mechanism for making adjustments and in 1982 for the leg design of this compass. The second concept received West German patent number 2,922,999 in 1979. Hearlihy & Co., a Springfield, Ohio, supplier of drafting instruments and developer of technology education curriculum modules, distributed this compass as model number 504. In 2012, Hearlihy offered a similar compass, possibly made by Intertech, for $7.10. Compare to 1987.0589.02.
- References: Günther Partes, "Compass with Fine Adjustment" (U.S. Patent 4,163,322 issued August 7, 1979), and "Holder for Lead Insert and Needle for a Compass" (U.S. Patent 4,327,491 issued May 4, 1982); Hearlihy & Co. online catalog, http://www.hearlihy.com; accession file.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1987
- maker
- Intertech Drawing Instruments
- ID Number
- 1987.0589.01
- accession number
- 1987.0589
- catalog number
- 1987.0589.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Intertech Bow Compass Sold by Hearlihy & Co.
- Description
- This green zinc alloy instrument has a black plastic handle. Silver metal adjusting bolts set the width of the instrument and the length of the needle and pencil points. The front of the handle is marked with the letter H. The back of the handle is marked: GERMANY. A gray and clear plastic envelope has a black and white plastic tube with two replacement pencil leads. The front of the case is marked in gold: H (/) Hearlihy & Co (/) Springfield, Ohio (/) 404. The flap for the case fastens on the back and is marked: Western Germany.
- For information on the manufacturer and distributor, see 1987.0589.01. On this example, the adjusting bolts for the points are on the front and back of the instrument, instead of on the outside of each leg.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1987
- maker
- Intertech Drawing Instruments
- ID Number
- 1987.0589.02
- accession number
- 1987.0589
- catalog number
- 1987.0589.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Eagle Pencil Company Model 569 Compass and Divider
- Description
- This metal compass is noticeably corroded. The compass is held together by a screw at the top. A spring inside the mechanism below the screw allows the two legs to be squeezed together. The mechanism is marked on both sides: EAGLE PENCIL CO. (/) NEW YORK (/) PAT. DEC.11.1894 (/) PAT. GT.BRITAIN. The legs are embossed with a floral pattern. The two needle points slide into slots at the end of each leg. One point is made of the same metal as the compass. The other point is a metal that does not corrode, possibly German silver. The German silver point is reversible and holds a pencil lead in its other end.
- German immigrant Heinrich Berolzheimer opened Eagle Pencil Company as a pencil shop in New York City in 1856, with a factory in Yonkers. By 1880, the firm made mechanical pencils as well as pens and erasers. In 1969, the company changed its name to Berol Corporation, and the Empire Pencil Corporation purchased it in 1986. Harrison Cole of Columbus, Ohio, applied on April 16, 1894, for a patent on a braking screw bolt that would help compasses or dividers stay set in position and received it on December 11 that year. The Brown University mathematics department donated this instrument to the Smithsonian in 1973. Compare to 1981.0933.17.
- References: Harrison Cole, "Drawing Instrument" (U.S. Patent 530,680 issued December 11, 1894); "Eagle Divider and Compass," School Journal 56 (1898): 389.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1900
- maker
- Eagle Pencil Company
- ID Number
- MA*304722.04
- accession number
- 1973.304722
- catalog number
- 304722.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Next Page