Darling, Brown & Sharpe Drafting Triangle

Description:

In the early 19th century, draftsmen began to use triangles in combination with T-squares to draw vertical and diagonal lines. This steel 30°-60°-90° triangle is 14" tall. A hole near the 30° angle is for hanging. The instrument is marked: D. B. & S. Prov. R. I. (/) E. D. LEAVITT. Compare to 1977.0460.09 and 1977.0460.10.

D. B. & S. is the mark for Darling, Brown & Sharpe of Providence, R.I. Samuel Darling, a machinist who invented numerous drafting instruments, partnered with Joseph R. Brown and Lucian Sharpe between 1866 and 1892. For more on the history of Darling, Brown & Sharpe, see 1977.0460.01, 1977.0460.05, and 1977.0460.06. This object was not advertised in company catalogs published in 1868 and 1887.

Erasmus Darwin Leavitt Jr. (1836–1916), the renowned American mechanical engineer and designer of steam engines, owned this triangle. It was donated to the Smithsonian by his granddaughter, Margaret Van Daell Rice (1904–1979).

References: Maya Hambly, Drawing Instruments, 1580–1980 (London: Sotheby's Publications, 1988), 105; Bureau of Naval Personnel, Basic Hand Tool Skills (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1954), 51; Kenneth L. Cope, intro., A Brown & Sharpe Catalogue Collection, 1868 to 1899 (Mendham, N.J.: The Astragal Press, 1997); Henry Dexter Sharpe, A Measure of Perfection: The History of Brown & Sharpe (North Kingston, R.I.: Brown & Sharpe, 1949), http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id44.html.

Date Made: 1866-1892

Maker: Darling, Brown and Sharpe

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Rhode Island, Providence

Subject: MathematicsDrafting, EngineeringDrawing Instruments

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics, Squares and Triangles, Science & Mathematics

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Margaret van D. Rice

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1977.0460.08Catalog Number: 336079Accession Number: 1977.0460

Object Name: triangle

Physical Description: steel (overall material)Measurements: overall: 20.2 cm x 35.3 cm x .2 cm; 7 15/16 in x 13 29/32 in x 3/32 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-6902-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_904233

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