brass pantograph
Datecirca 1820
Inventory NumberDW0807
ClassificationPantograph
Subject
Maker
W. & S. Jones
fl. 1791 - 1859
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionspantograph: 5.8 × 64.6 × 13 cm (2 5/16 × 25 7/16 × 5 1/8 in.)
case: 8 × 67 × 12.5 cm (3 1/8 × 26 3/8 × 4 15/16 in.)
case: 8 × 67 × 12.5 cm (3 1/8 × 26 3/8 × 4 15/16 in.)
Material
Accessorieswooden storage case
ivory caps
extra brass arm
DescriptionThe pantograph is stored in a long, thin, triangular, mahogany box. The lid and the bottom are attached with hinges along one of the long sides. There is a metal key hole centered along the opposite long side of the bottom of the box. There are two metal hooks attached to the bottom of the box that fit into loops attached to the top of the box to keep it closed.
This pantograph consists of four brass arms with four pivoting connections. The two longest arms are attached at one end. That end will be referred to as the leftmost extremity of the pantograph. The two smaller arms are attached at the opposite end. The other end of each smaller arm is attached to one of the longer arms with a brass slider and screw. Users can loosen the screw in order to slide the ends of the smaller arms to the desired location. The resulting shape of the pantograph is a single parallelogram with two extended sides.
Each of the four pivot intersections sits atop a small ivory wheel framed in brass.
There is a brass pin attached to the rightmost end of one of the long arms. There is a brass stylus attached to the rightmost end of the other long arm. At the rightmost end of the smaller arm that is attached to the long arm with the stylus, there is a sliding, brass attachment. It is attached with a screw that can be loosened, permitting the user to slide it along the arm. The slider is attached to a brass holder for writing implements that extends vertically to the surface below. Above, there is a brass dish with a grey, molded weight sitting in it. The weight keeps the writing implement in contact with the surface below.
This pantograph has an extra brass arm equipped with a writing implement attachment that can be swapped in for the smaller arm just described. The extra arm is shorter than the long arms and longer than the short arms.
This pantograph consists of four brass arms with four pivoting connections. The two longest arms are attached at one end. That end will be referred to as the leftmost extremity of the pantograph. The two smaller arms are attached at the opposite end. The other end of each smaller arm is attached to one of the longer arms with a brass slider and screw. Users can loosen the screw in order to slide the ends of the smaller arms to the desired location. The resulting shape of the pantograph is a single parallelogram with two extended sides.
Each of the four pivot intersections sits atop a small ivory wheel framed in brass.
There is a brass pin attached to the rightmost end of one of the long arms. There is a brass stylus attached to the rightmost end of the other long arm. At the rightmost end of the smaller arm that is attached to the long arm with the stylus, there is a sliding, brass attachment. It is attached with a screw that can be loosened, permitting the user to slide it along the arm. The slider is attached to a brass holder for writing implements that extends vertically to the surface below. Above, there is a brass dish with a grey, molded weight sitting in it. The weight keeps the writing implement in contact with the surface below.
This pantograph has an extra brass arm equipped with a writing implement attachment that can be swapped in for the smaller arm just described. The extra arm is shorter than the long arms and longer than the short arms.
Signedengraved on one of the smaller brass arms: W. & S. Jones Holborn London
FunctionThe pantograph is a motion transfer mechanical linkage used to make re-scaled but otherwise identical copies of two dimensional drawings and maps. Users first select the desired ratio of reproduction by adjusting the placement of the smaller brass arms on the larger ones and by placing the writing implement holder at the appropriate increment. Users then trace the original two-dimensional image with the brass stylus and motion will be transferred through the pivot points of the parallelogram such that the drawing implement will draw the desired re-scaled image on the surface below.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from F. & G. Staack, Camden, Maine, September 2, 1961.
Peter Hill
Date: circa 1820
Accessories: storage box
two original curatorial information cards
Object number: DW0162
John Bleuler
Date: circa 1790
Accessories: wooden storage case
three ivory tiles fallen off the instrument
two original curatorial cards
Object number: DW0454
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: circa 1875
Accessories: pantograph weight (5140b); wooden stands
Object number: 5140a
Adrien Gavard
Date: circa 1860
Accessories: hinged mahogany case with original trade label; extra arm; writing implements; instrument weights; small ivory wheels with brass frames
Object number: 1997-1-1856
Forster
Date: 1950-1960
Accessories: spare ink cartridges; pen attachments
am auxiliary box containing small Allen wrench, scotch tape, extra parts, and storage instructions
Object number: 1999-1-0054
Gottfried G. Ledder
Date: circa 1904
Accessories: triangular mahogany case
Object number: 1997-1-1857
Charles Thurber
Date: circa 1860
Accessories: wooden framed, glass paned case; original and photocopied letter from the Massachusetts Historical Society Director, Stephen T. Riley to David P. Wheatland dated June 28, 1961regarding permanent loan of the pantograph (in instrument file); original and photocopied hand-written letter from David P. Wheatland to Stephen T. Riley regarding permanent loan of the pantorgraph dated March 16, 1962 (in instrument file); original and photocopied hand written letter from David P. Wheatland to Stephen T. Riley regarding the pantograph dated June 23 1961 (in instrument file)
Object number: 1998-1-1617
Hammond Typewriter Company
Date: circa 1923
Accessories: four Hammond type shuttles for different type faces, each with a wooden storage box; four laminated paper rectangles with symbol placement guide; instruction book, instruction sheets, advertisements, and correspondence (in object file)
Object number: 1996-1-0373
