Keuffel & Esser 1392P Open Divided Scale
Keuffel & Esser 1392P Open Divided Scale
- Description
- This 13" boxwood scale rule has a white celluloid coating along both long edges. The top edge has scales for 1" and 1/2" to the foot. Between these scales is a scale divided to 1/2", numbered from left to right by ones from 1 to 11, and numbered from right to left by ones from 0 to 21. The bottom edge has scales for 1/8" and 1/4" to the foot. Between these scales is a scale divided to 1/8", numbered from left to right by fours from 0 to 96, and numbered from right to left by twos from 0 to 48. The middle of the rule is marked: PARAGON 1392P K+E KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. The back of the rule is marked: D. B.
- Keuffel & Esser of New York City began using the logo shown on this object in 1943, but did not start printing it on instruments until 1949. That year, model 1392P sold for $4.00. The company changed its model numbers in 1962.
- Isaac Giacinto Molella, who worked as an electrical engineer for General Electric in the United States, North Africa, and Europe in the 1950s, owned this scale. Presumably he acquired it secondhand from someone with the initials D.B.
- References: Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co., 40th ed. (New York, 1944), 128; K+E Price List, 41st ed. (New York, 1949); Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co., 42nd ed. (New York, 1954), 180.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- scale rule
- scale
- date made
- 1949–1962
- maker
- Keuffel & Esser Co.
- place made
- United States: New York, New York City
- Physical Description
- boxwood (overall material)
- celluloid (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 33.6 cm x 3.5 cm x 4 cm; 13 7/32 in x 1 3/8 in x 1 9/16 in
- ID Number
- 1992.0433.04
- accession number
- 1992.0433
- catalog number
- 1992.0433.04
- Credit Line
- In Memory of Isaac Giacinto Molella
- subject
- Mathematics
- Drafting, Engineering
- Rule, Measuring
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Science & Mathematics
- Scale Rules
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.