Eagle Pencil Company Model 569 Compass and Divider with Leads
Eagle Pencil Company Model 569 Compass and Divider with Leads
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- Description
- This metal instrument is held together by a screw at the top. A spring inside the mechanism below the screw allows the two legs to be squeezed together. The piece between the screw and spring is marked: EAGLE PENCIL CO. (/) NEW YORK (/) PATENTED. The legs are embossed with a floral pattern. Two needle points slide into slots at the end of each leg. One needle point is reversible and has a holder for a pencil lead at its other end. Compare to 304722.04, which is apparently an older version of this model. The mark refers to the patent Harrison Cole received in 1894 for a braking screw bolt that would help compasses or dividers remain set in position.
- A cardboard box is covered with green and white checked paper and a white label marked: EAGLE (/) COMPASS & DIVIDER (/) Pat. Dec. 11th 1894. Pat. Gt. Britain. (/) Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. & Canada. (/) NO. 569. (/) Manufactured by EAGLE PENCIL CO., New York, U.S.A. Two small aluminum tubes received with the instrument each hold five sharpened pencil leads.
- German immigrant Heinrich Berolzheimer opened Eagle Pencil Company as a pencil shop in New York City in 1856, with a factory in Yonkers. By 1880, the firm made mechanical pencils as well as pens and erasers. In 1969, the company changed its name to Berol Corporation, and the Empire Pencil Corporation purchased it in 1986.
- References: Harrison Cole, "Drawing Instrument" (U.S. Patent 530,680 issued December 11, 1894); "The History of Berol," http://www.berol.co.uk/berolhistory.html.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- compass
- compass, drawing
- leads, group of
- date made
- 20th century
- maker
- Eagle Pencil Company
- place made
- United States: New York, New York City
- Physical Description
- lead (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 1.5 cm x 14.5 cm x 6 cm; 19/32 in x 5 23/32 in x 2 3/8 in
- ID Number
- 1981.0933.17
- accession number
- 1981.0933
- catalog number
- 1981.0933.17
- Credit Line
- Gift of William J. Ellenberger
- subject
- Mathematics
- Drawing Instruments
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Science & Mathematics
- Dividers and Compasses
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Sheila Pressler
Thu, 2015-02-19 20:58