Persian Drah

Description:

This wooden rectangular rule is reported to be a Persian drah, or pic, and said to have been used for measuring dry goods. It is divided on two sides by roughly cut arrows and vertical lines. One side has Persian characters inside circles at both ends. On that side, the divisions are at: 4.5, 8.8*, 13.2, 17.4*, 21.5, 25.9, 30.0, 34.3*, 38.5, 42.7, 47.1, 51.2*, 55.5, 59.7*, and 64.1 cm. Divisions with an * are marked with an arrow rather than a line on the rule. These divisions are spaced apart 1 centimeter further than the divisions on another Persian drah, 1979.0991.01. On the other side, all of the divisions are vertical lines, at: 11.7, 23.0, 34.2, 45.5, and 57.0 cm.

In 1892 the U.S. Department of State transferred this object to the Smithsonian.

Date Made: 19th century

Location: Currently not on view

Subject: Mathematics

Subject:

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

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Transfer from the U.S. Department of State

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1979.0991.02Accession Number: 1979.0991Catalog Number: 166898

Object Name: rulescale rule

Physical Description: iron (overall material)Measurements: overall: 1.5 cm x 68.2 cm x .3 cm; 19/32 in x 26 27/32 in x 1/8 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-5627-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_904681

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