Knopf Bow Compass
- Description
- This German silver bow pencil has a handle engraved in a honeycomb pattern above a ring. A spiral is engraved on a disc below the ring. The width of the instrument is adjusted with a corroded metal nut between the legs. The two small screws on the front of the legs that adjust the metal and pencil points appear to be different from each other. The bow nut is marked: MADE IN USA. The nut adjusting the metal point is marked: KNOPF (/) GERMANY. The initials RW are scratched into the leg with the pencil point.
- According to the donor, her husband, electrical engineer Robert H. Wieler (1923–1993), used the instrument. Jürgen Knopf began manufacturing drawing instruments and chalk in Hehlen, Germany, in 1950. He sold the company in 2010 and it was renamed PyCom. Since the object is marked as made in two different countries, it is possible that it was put together from parts of other compasses.
- References: PyCom GmbH & Co. KG, "About Us," http://pycom.eu/en/index.php?categoryid=8; accession file.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- mid 20th century
- maker
- Knopf
- place made
- Germany
- Physical Description
- graphite (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 1 cm x 4 cm x 14 cm; 13/32 in x 1 9/16 in x 5 1/2 in
- ID Number
- 1998.0032.10
- catalog number
- 1998.0032.10
- accession number
- 1998.0032
- Credit Line
- Gift of Norma P. Wieler
- subject
- Mathematics
- Drawing Instruments
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Science & Mathematics
- Dividers and Compasses
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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