Object Details
- Fujishima
- Description
- A rectangular paulownia wood case has a red and white sticker on the right end marked: No. 45 (/) M. Inside the case are four bamboo rulers, three that are just over 12" (about 31 cm) long and one that is 2-1/4" (15.5 cm). A fifth rule is made of a darker wood, perhaps cherry.
- The first rule is marked in Japanese: Made by Fujishima. It is also marked: 3000. The scales along both edges are identical, 30 cm long, divided to twentieths of a unit, and numbered by hundreds from 0 to 2,400. The back of the rule is stamped in red: METRE. It is also marked: 1 (/) 3000.
- The second rule is made from a dark wood and is marked in Japanese: Made by Fujishima. The scales are identical and labeled: 1/16. They are divided to half-units and numbered by fives from 5 to 190. Each increment of five units is 5/16" (8 mm) long.
- The third rule is marked in Japanese: Made by Fujishima. It is also marked: 1800. The scales along both edges are identical, 30 cm long, divided to single units, and numbered by tens from 0 to 540. The back of the rule is stamped in red: METRE. It is also marked: 1 (/) 1800. It is also marked: 5.
- The fourth rule is marked in Japanese: Made by Fujishima. It is also marked: 1600. The scales along both edges are identical, 30 cm long, divided to single units, and numbered by tens from 0 to 480. The back of the rule is stamped in red: METRE. It is also marked: 1 (/) 1600. It is also marked: 6.
- The scales on the fifth and shortest rule are 2" (5 cm) long, divided to single units, and numbered by tens from 0 to 40. The rule is marked on the back: 1/800. It is also stamped in red: 3.
- These rules were likely used in engineering and architectural drawing. Compare to MA.261283, MA.261284, MA.261286, and MA.261287. The rules were exhibited by the Japanese Empire Department of Education at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. They then were displayed by the Museum of the U.S. Bureau of Education until 1906 and transferred to the Smithsonian National Museum in 1910. For more information, see MA.261298 and MA.261313.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Transfer from Bureau of Education, Department of the Interior
- before 1876
- ID Number
- MA.261285
- catalog number
- 261285
- accession number
- 51116
- Object Name
- scale rules, set of
- rules, set of
- Physical Description
- bamboo (overall material)
- wood (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 4.3 cm x 33 cm x 4.6 cm; 1 11/16 in x 13 in x 1 13/16 in
- place made
- Japan
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Metric System
- Science & Mathematics
- Measuring & Mapping
- Scale Rules
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Expositions and Fairs
- Rule, Measuring
- Drafting, Engineering
- Drawing Instruments
- Record ID
- nmah_1215105
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-abcb-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
