Polar–Other

Some polar planimeters sold in the United States, particularly the products offered by Keuffel & Esser of New York, cannot be traced to their original manufacturers. Most of these instruments were probably made in Germany or Switzerland. This page also shows the one electronic planimeter in the collections, a polar model made by Lasico of Los Angeles.

This German-made fixed-arm polar planimeter has a 4-1/2" metal and bronzed brass tracer arm and an 8" bronzed brass pole arm welded to a cylindrical weight. A carriage on the tracer arm has a white plastic measuring wheel, vernier, and registering dial.
Description
This German-made fixed-arm polar planimeter has a 4-1/2" metal and bronzed brass tracer arm and an 8" bronzed brass pole arm welded to a cylindrical weight. A carriage on the tracer arm has a white plastic measuring wheel, vernier, and registering dial. The carriage is marked with a serial number: 1862. The pole arm is marked: K+E KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. It is also marked: MADE IN (/) GERMANY. A rectangular metal test plate with slanted corners is marked: 10 (/) sq. in. A glass magnifier is wrapped in a white facial tissue. The tissue is marked in ink: 1 (/) 1424 (/) 1798 (/) 6.26.
A wooden case covered with discolored black leather is lined with tan chamois leather, which has rust stains. A label pasted inside the lid of the case says that this is Keuffel & Esser model 4236, serial number 1862, with area of the neutral circle of 214.45 square inches. The case fits in a green cardboard box with masking tape along the edges. The top of the box is marked: A. P. M. One end of the bottom of the box has a red and green label marked: K+E (/) 4236 (/) COMPENSATING (/) POLAR PLANIMETER. The instrument was received with instructions, 1991.0882.02.
K&E introduced model 4236 in 1939 and began to use its K+E logo in 1949. Between 1955 and 1962, the open carriage was replaced with a closed top. The donor, biologist Anne P. Merrill (1916–2002), used this planimeter when she was researching the contraceptive effects of progesterone with Gregory Pincus and Min Chueh Chang at the Worcester (Mass.) Foundation for Experimental Biology. They received their initial grant money from Katharine McCormick in 1951, and it is likely Merrill purchased the planimeter around that time. In 1949 the instrument sold for $35.00, and in 1956 it cost $32.50.
The instrument reached the Smithsonian in 1991.
References: Clark McCoy, "Collection of Pages from K&E Catalogs for the 4236 Family of Polar Planimeters," http://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/PlanimeterModels/ke4236family.htm; Kimberly A. Buettner, "John Charles Rock," Embryo Project Encyclopedia (2007), hdl.handle.net/2286/embryo:124783; Lara V. Marks, Sexual Chemistry: A History of the Contraceptive Pill (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001), 92; Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser, 40th ed. (Hoboken, N.J., 1944), 226; K+E Price List, Applying to the 41st Edition Catalog, Part I (Hoboken, N.J.: Keuffel & Esser Co., 1949), 33; K+E Price List, Applying to the 42nd Edition Catalog, Part I (Hoboken, N.J.: Keuffel & Esser Co., 1956), 44; accession file.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949-1955
retailer
Keuffel & Esser Co.
ID Number
1991.0882.01
accession number
1991.0882
catalog number
1991.0882.01
The adjustable tracer arm on this German silver and bronzed brass instrument is evenly divided to tenths of a unit, with each unit equal to 5mm, and numbered from 5 to 36. The measuring wheel, vernier, and registering dial are white plastic.
Description
The adjustable tracer arm on this German silver and bronzed brass instrument is evenly divided to tenths of a unit, with each unit equal to 5mm, and numbered from 5 to 36. The measuring wheel, vernier, and registering dial are white plastic. A second vernier is severely tarnished, made of German silver, and used with the scale on the tracer arm. The carriage for the measuring wheel is marked with a serial number: 12960. The pole arm fits inside a square tube and cylindrical weight, allowing the arm's length to be adjusted. The pole arm has a scale like the scale on the tracer arm, but it is numbered from 30 to 35.
Unlike earlier versions of the instrument, such as 1999.0250.01, the tube has an opening with a vernier. The tube is marked on top: K+E KUEFFEL & ESSER CO. (/) PARAGON. It is also marked: MADE IN (/) GERMANY. The side of the tube is marked: 12960. An oblong German silver testing rule is marked for 5 sq. in., 10 sq. in., and 100 sq. cm. A wooden case covered with black leather is lined with chamois leather. The top of the case is marked: K+E. The serial number and tracer and pole arm settings are written in ink on a K&E label pasted inside the lid. The number 20,475 is written in pencil on the label. See 1991.0882.02 for instructions.
K&E imported planimeters from the Coradi firm in Zurich to sell as model 4242 from 1901 to about 1936. When K&E began to offer model 4242 as part of its Paragon line, it changed suppliers to a German company. The instrument was not available during World War II. K&E introduced its K+E logo in 1949, and it added a tracer lens between 1958 and 1960. The price was $98.00 in 1949 and $90.00 in 1956. According to the donor, this instrument was used by her husband, the electrical engineer Robert H. Wieler (1923–1993).
The instrument was received at the Smithsonian in 1998.
References: Clark McCoy, "Collection of Pages from K&E Catalogs for the 4242 Family of Polar Planimeters," http://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/PlanimeterModels/ke4242family.htm; accession file.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949-1958
date distributed
1940
distributor
Keuffel & Esser Co.
maker
Keuffel & Esser Co.
ID Number
1998.0032.03
catalog number
1998.0032.03
accession number
1998.0032

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