Polar Planimeter

Object Details

Description: This German silver and steel instrument has a white celluloid measuring wheel and vernier. It is in the general style of an Amsler fixed-scale planimeter, but it has no registering dial. The 4" tracer arm and 6" pole arm are connected by a hinge and form a circle around the measuring wheel when the instrument is closed. The cylindrical weight is screwed to a short revolving arm that is screwed on top of the pole arm. The lengths of the arms are not adjustable.; A wooden case covered with black leather is lined with black velvet. White trim is around the inside edges of the case. A small piece of paper glued inside the bottom of the case is marked: 0.01 [square] in.; There is no mark for a maker or distributor, but this instrument closely resembles a planimeter sold by the Eugene Dietzgen Company in 1926 as model 1800 for $17.75. Compare to MA.318485.; The instrument was received at the Smithsonian in 1989.; Reference: Catalog of Eugene Dietzgen Co., 12th ed. (Chicago, 1926), 180.
Location: Currently not on view

ca 1930

Physical Description: german silver (overall material); steel (overall material); plastic (overall material); wood (overall material); leather (overall material); fabric (overall material); paper (overall material)
Measurements: case: 5 cm x 18.2 cm x 5 cm; 1 31/32 in x 7 5/32 in x 1 31/32 in

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics; Planimeters; Science & Mathematics

National Museum of American History

GUID (Link to Original Record): https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-a0bd-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa