ebony pantograph
Datecirca 1790
Inventory NumberDW0454
ClassificationPantograph
Subject
Maker
John Bleuler
fl. 1771 - 1829
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions4.7 x 56.9 x 13 cm (1 7/8 x 22 3/8 x 5 1/8 in.)
Material
Accessorieswooden storage case
three ivory tiles fallen off the instrument
two original curatorial cards
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 are two brass hooks attached to the bottom of the box that fit into loops attached to the top of the box to keep it closed. The inside of the box is unfinished wood.
This pantograph consists of four ebony 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, and the rest accordingly. The two smaller arms are attached together at the rightmost end. The left end of each smaller arm is attached to one of the longer pantograph arms. The resulting shape of the pantograph is a single parallelogram with two extended sides.
At each place where two arms are connected there is a circular hole drilled through both arms and a brass pin with a white top through the hole. The arms are fixed near the top of the pin, just underneath the white top, and as such they are raised above the surface below. In addition to the main connection holes, there are five additional circular holes through one of the long arms and five additional holes through the short arm whose left end attaches to it. The pin connecting these two arms can be removed are re-inserted through any combination of the six total holes in each arm. Each hole is marked by a small ivory tile. Each tile displays a fraction in black numerals. The fractions, from left to right are 1/10, 1/7, 1/6, 1/4, and 1/3. The space between the holes is proportional to these fractions. The tiles are the same on both arms, however the 1/7, 1/4, and 1/3 tiles for the longer arm have fallen off. They are still with the instrument.
There is a brass stylus fixed near the right end of the long ebony arm with the extra holes. The stylus reaches to the surface below (is the same height as the pivot pins) and is used to trace the original diagram or map being reproduced. There are two brass writing implement holders: one fixed near the right end of the other long arm and the other fixed near the right end of the short arm with the extra holes. These brass holders are shorter than the stylus and the pins and do not reach the surface below. They are designed to hold writing implements that will trace the scaled up or scaled down image.
There is a label for BLEULER, Optician, inside the box depicting a woman leaning on a globe, three small seraphim playing with another globe, a statue bust on a pedestal, vines, and a sextant, among other things.
This pantograph consists of four ebony 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, and the rest accordingly. The two smaller arms are attached together at the rightmost end. The left end of each smaller arm is attached to one of the longer pantograph arms. The resulting shape of the pantograph is a single parallelogram with two extended sides.
At each place where two arms are connected there is a circular hole drilled through both arms and a brass pin with a white top through the hole. The arms are fixed near the top of the pin, just underneath the white top, and as such they are raised above the surface below. In addition to the main connection holes, there are five additional circular holes through one of the long arms and five additional holes through the short arm whose left end attaches to it. The pin connecting these two arms can be removed are re-inserted through any combination of the six total holes in each arm. Each hole is marked by a small ivory tile. Each tile displays a fraction in black numerals. The fractions, from left to right are 1/10, 1/7, 1/6, 1/4, and 1/3. The space between the holes is proportional to these fractions. The tiles are the same on both arms, however the 1/7, 1/4, and 1/3 tiles for the longer arm have fallen off. They are still with the instrument.
There is a brass stylus fixed near the right end of the long ebony arm with the extra holes. The stylus reaches to the surface below (is the same height as the pivot pins) and is used to trace the original diagram or map being reproduced. There are two brass writing implement holders: one fixed near the right end of the other long arm and the other fixed near the right end of the short arm with the extra holes. These brass holders are shorter than the stylus and the pins and do not reach the surface below. They are designed to hold writing implements that will trace the scaled up or scaled down image.
There is a label for BLEULER, Optician, inside the box depicting a woman leaning on a globe, three small seraphim playing with another globe, a statue bust on a pedestal, vines, and a sextant, among other things.
Signedengraved on ivory inset in long ebony arm: BLEULER : LONDON
printed on label inside lid of box: BLEULER / Optician / 27 Ludgate Street / LONDON.
Curatorial RemarksAlthough pantographs in brass are not uncommon, a splendid one in ebony and ivory like this one is extremely uncommon.
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 point of intersection between the large and small ebony arms with the extra pin placement holes. Users attach a writing instrument to one or both of the brass holders. Users can then trace the original two-dimensional image using the brass stylus and motion will be transferred through the pivot points of the parallelogram such that the drawing implement(s) will draw the desired re-scaled image on the surface below.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Saul Moskowitz, Marblehead, Massachusetts, November 16, 1972.
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
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: circa 1875
Accessories: pantograph weight (5140b); wooden stands
Object number: 5140a
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
W. & S. Jones
Date: circa 1820
Accessories: wooden storage case
ivory caps
extra brass arm
Object number: DW0807
Peter Hill
Date: circa 1820
Accessories: storage box
two original curatorial information cards
Object number: DW0162
Walter Balcke
Date: 1952-1964
Accessories: mahogany box; cardboard instruction card
Object number: 1997-1-1601