geometric pen or ellipsograph
Datecirca 1813
Inventory NumberDW0470
ClassificationEllipsograph
Subject
Maker
W. & S. Jones
fl. 1791 - 1859
Inventor
Count Giambattista Suardi
1711 - 1767
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsellipsograph: 21 × 25 × 25 cm (8 1/4 × 9 13/16 × 9 13/16 in.)
case: 7 × 20 × 24 cm (2 3/4 × 7 7/8 × 9 7/16 in.)
case: 7 × 20 × 24 cm (2 3/4 × 7 7/8 × 9 7/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriescrank; gears (14); pencil arm; thumbtacks (5); stub pencils (5); pencil holder; flat mahogany case
DescriptionThe frame of this drawing instrument is made of three curved legs, contrived to fold within one another for convenience of packaging. Under the center point is a vertical axis supporting a fixed pinion and shaft handle. To the lower part of the axis, any of the gear wheels can be adapted.
From the lower part of the central axis an arm is fixed and contrived to turn around the main axis. On that arm are two sliding attachments, on which any gear wheel can be attached. At the end of that arm, another one is fixed that carries the pencil. It can slide backwards and forwards to vary the distance of the pencil to its supporting attachment.
The great number of wheels produce hundreds (even thousands) of different geometrical curves. The number of teeth on each wheel is engraved on them. Everything is stored is a small mahogany box.
To understand how this instrument works, take a look at the attached video.
From the lower part of the central axis an arm is fixed and contrived to turn around the main axis. On that arm are two sliding attachments, on which any gear wheel can be attached. At the end of that arm, another one is fixed that carries the pencil. It can slide backwards and forwards to vary the distance of the pencil to its supporting attachment.
The great number of wheels produce hundreds (even thousands) of different geometrical curves. The number of teeth on each wheel is engraved on them. Everything is stored is a small mahogany box.
To understand how this instrument works, take a look at the attached video.
Signedin box, trade label: W, & S, JONES, / Opticians, &c / No. 30 Lower Holborn, / London.
on the pencil arm, italics: W & S. Jones 30 Holborn, London.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Philip W. Pfeifer, New York, December 3, 1973. Donated to CHSI 1985.
Walter Balcke
Date: 1955
Accessories: mahogany box with plexiglass lid; pencil; eraser; box of lead; putty ball; cleaning cloth; cardboard instruction card
Object number: 1997-1-1619
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1957
Accessories: white card with instrument information inside case
Object number: 1997-1-0447
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1949
Accessories: instruction manual for K&E planimeters 4236, 4236M and 4242 in instrument case; instrument case; green cardboard box for instrument case; white card with instrument information inside case
Object number: 2004-1-0346
W. Watson & Sons Ltd.
Date: circa 1885
Accessories: oculars (2 pairs): B and D; objectives in marked canisters (4): 1/4, 1/2, 1, 3 inches; condenser with iris diaphragm; rotating wheel diaphragm; iris diaphragm; set of 4 disk diaphragms in brass box; triple nosepiece; live box; prisms for Wenham binocular system (2); stage for simple microscope with rotating wheel diaphragm; vulcanite stage; spare knobs (2); parts box; case
Object number: 1249
Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory
Date: 1890-1910
Accessories: wind vane and anemometer (1996-1-0145b); additional anemometer cup (1996-1-0145c)
Object number: 1996-1-0145a
Gebrüder Haff
Date: 1960-1969
Accessories: plush-lined, hard green case
white card with instrument information in case
Object number: 1999-1-0005
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1949
Accessories: instrument case
white card with instrument and measurement information inside instrument case
Object number: 2004-1-0344
R. & J. Beck
Date: 1876
Accessories: oculars (2) in microscope; Darker's selenite retarding filters (3); wheel diaphragm; mechanical rotary stage; stage slider. Other accessories are in the case (1122b), including monocular draw tube; oculars (3); objectives in cans (5); empty can; Lieberkühn; polarizing set; slides; camera lucidas (2); etc.; plus a Beck patent substage condenser (1122c); and apertometer (1122d).
Object number: 1122a
Harvard College Observatory
Date: circa 1869
Object number: 1996-1-0082