Capt. Field's Improved Hinged Parallel Rule Signed Henry Hughes & Son

Description:

This 21" German silver hinged parallel rule has two small knobs for positioning the instrument. Brass round pieces cover the screws securing the two hinges. An indentation is on both blades at the center of the rule, with a line marking the center. The edges of the top blade are marked as a rectangular protractor, and the edges of the bottom blade are marked for nautical compass points.

The center of the top blade is marked: U. S. C. & G. S. NO. 331. The right end of the top blade is marked: CAPT. FIELD'S IMPD. The right end of the lower blade is marked: H. HUGHES & SON LTD. LONDON. The left end has the firm's "HUSUN" logo, with a sun above the letters and waves below the letters.

Capt. William Andrew Field (about 1796–1871) of Britain added a protractor and compass scales to hinged parallel rules in 1854. This made it easier for ship navigators to move the rule without losing track of the ship's course. Henry Hughes & Son made marine and aeronautical navigational instruments in London from 1828 to 1947 and incorporated in 1903. According to the accession file, the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey acquired this rule on August 21, 1919, and last issued it on September 5, 1922. Compare to MA.309662 and MA.309663.

References: "Field's Parallel Rule," The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle 23, no. 5 (May 1854): 280; Peggy A. Kidwell, "American Parallel Rules: Invention on the Fringes of Industry," Rittenhouse 10, no. 39 (1996): 90–96; National Maritime Museum, "Captain Field's Improved Parallel Rule," Object ID NAV0602, http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/42814.html; Science Museum Group, "Henry Hughes and Son Limited," Collections Online – People, http://collectionsonline.nmsi.ac.uk/detail.php?type=related&kv=58792&t=people.

Date Made: 1919

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United Kingdom: England, London

Subject: MathematicsNavigationGovernment

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics, Science & Mathematics, Parallel Rules, Measuring & Mapping

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Transfer from U.S. Department of Commerce, Coast & Geodetic Survey

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: MA.309661Catalog Number: 309661Accession Number: 106954

Object Name: parallel rule

Physical Description: brass (overall material)german silver (overall material)Measurements: overall: 1.1 cm x 53.3 cm x 7.3 cm; 7/16 in x 20 31/32 in x 2 7/8 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-0491-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_690215

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