Surveyor's Chain

Description:

In 1620 an English mathematician named Edmund Gunter described a surveyor's chain with 100 links, measuring 66 feet (22 yards or 4 poles) overall. By this design, one square chain equals 484 square yards, ten square chains equal an acre, and eighty chains equal a mile. Building on this work, an English mathematician named Vincent Wing (1619-1668) introduced a 2 pole chain with 40 links. This example is of that sort. It is, moreover, associated with the vernier compass marked "F. Heiseley Fredk: town" in the Museum collection.

Originator: Wing, VincentOwner: Heisely, Frederick

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences, Surveying and Geodesy, Measuring & Mapping

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Related Publication: Rittenhouse

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1988.0793.03Accession Number: 1988.0793Catalog Number: 1988.0793.03

Object Name: surveyor's chain

Measurements: overall length: 33 in; 83.82 cmoverall, bundled: 2 1/2 in x 13 in x 7 in; 6.35 cm x 33.02 cm x 17.78 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-bf01-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_763013

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