gunner's caliper with sector
Datecirca 1766
Inventory NumberDW0955
ClassificationGunner's caliper
Subject
Maker
George Adams (I)
1709 - 1772
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionssector open: 45.6 cm (17 15/16 in.)
closed: 0.2 x 26 x 5.8 cm (1/16 x 10 1/4 x 2 5/16 in.)
box: 4.4 × 31.4 × 28.9 cm (1 3/4 × 12 3/8 × 11 3/8 in.)
closed: 0.2 x 26 x 5.8 cm (1/16 x 10 1/4 x 2 5/16 in.)
box: 4.4 × 31.4 × 28.9 cm (1 3/4 × 12 3/8 × 11 3/8 in.)
Material
Accessoriesoriginal case
DescriptionThe brass arms are joined in a way that overlapping circular plates have readable scales at the hinge. Sector scales are inscribed on the arms. Steel points are set in the caliper tips.
Side A
sector scales:
line of lines ("Lin"), also known as line of equal parts
line of solids ("Sol")
line of planes ("Pla")
line of polygons ("Pol")
line of artificial tangents ("Tan.")
line of artificial sines ("Sines")
line of artificial versed sines ("Ver. Sines")
Gunter's line of numbers ("Num.")
hinge scales:
Iron
Brass
Guns
tables near caliper points:
conversion between English and French units (feet, lbs)
conversion between cubic inches and bushels
conversion between Troy and Avoirdupois weights (lbs, oz)
Side B
hinge scales:
"Shot Diameters"
"Bores of Guns"
"Pounders"
protractor with 3 scales 0°-180° running in both directions
tabulated mathematical relationships along the arms:
"Wt in lb Avoird. of a Cube Foot or Inch" of various materials including gold, mercury, lead, silver, copper, brass, steel, iron, tin, marble, stone, glass, brick, clay, sand, sea water, rain water, wine, brandy, oil, wheat, assorted woods, and brimstone.
"Rules for Shooting"
how "To raise Water"
"Fall of Bodies"
"No. of Shot or Shells in a Pile"
relationships between plane and solid figures
With original wooden case lined in scrap paper (printed on glued down side) and covered with sharkskin. Brass hinges and latch hooks. The hinges are separated.
Side A
sector scales:
line of lines ("Lin"), also known as line of equal parts
line of solids ("Sol")
line of planes ("Pla")
line of polygons ("Pol")
line of artificial tangents ("Tan.")
line of artificial sines ("Sines")
line of artificial versed sines ("Ver. Sines")
Gunter's line of numbers ("Num.")
hinge scales:
Iron
Brass
Guns
tables near caliper points:
conversion between English and French units (feet, lbs)
conversion between cubic inches and bushels
conversion between Troy and Avoirdupois weights (lbs, oz)
Side B
hinge scales:
"Shot Diameters"
"Bores of Guns"
"Pounders"
protractor with 3 scales 0°-180° running in both directions
tabulated mathematical relationships along the arms:
"Wt in lb Avoird. of a Cube Foot or Inch" of various materials including gold, mercury, lead, silver, copper, brass, steel, iron, tin, marble, stone, glass, brick, clay, sand, sea water, rain water, wine, brandy, oil, wheat, assorted woods, and brimstone.
"Rules for Shooting"
how "To raise Water"
"Fall of Bodies"
"No. of Shot or Shells in a Pile"
relationships between plane and solid figures
With original wooden case lined in scrap paper (printed on glued down side) and covered with sharkskin. Brass hinges and latch hooks. The hinges are separated.
Signedon upper arm: Geo. Adams No. 60
on lower arm: Fleet-Street London
Inscribedmonogram engraved on a disk in the center of the hinge: CR
Curatorial RemarksXRF analysis of the metals was done by Katherine Eremin and Sara Schechner in August 2007.
FunctionA gunner's caliper is an instrument to take dimensions such as the bore of a cannon or calibre of shot.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from F. & G. Staack, Camden, Maine, May 26, 1962. Donated to CHSI 1985.
English
Date: 1775-1800
Accessories: case contains the following nine instruments: one ivory and brass sector; one ivory and brass parallel rule; one brass protractor; two pairs of dividers, one with pen holder, pencil holder, and inking wheel (for drawing dotted line) attachments; and pen.
Object number: 5458
Arlton Workshop
Date: copyright 1960
Accessories: stored in plastic bag
Object number: 1998-1-1348
