Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 8th June, 1895
A communication by EMIL VON LANGE, of Munich, in the Empire of Germany,
Director of the Royal Technical School.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This measuring device has for its object to take the height of persons in
metrical measurements or the like, by marking the heights of the bodies of persons
on bands or tables provided therefor, as well as by periodic repetition of the
measurements in youthful persons to ascertain their actual growth.
This metrograph or measuring device consists ;-
Firstly, of a flat band or strip about 2 metres in height and about 30 centimetres
in width, made of paper or fabric, on which a metric scale, as well as a series of
blank columns are printed in a tabular form, separate columns being allotted to
different persons, such, for instance, as one column to each member of a family.
At the bottom end of the band or strip, a weight or weighting piece of wood or
metal, in the form of a half cylindrical bar, is placed, extending across the entire
width of the strip, the flat under surface of this bar enabling it to rest evenly on
the floor, and this bar coincides with the zero of the metric scale commencing
vertically above it. At the head end or top of the strip or band, there is a cross
stiffening piece as well as a device (such as a ring or the like) for suitably fastening
the tubular strip or band against a wall.
Secondly, of an angular measuring device consisting of two arms of wood or
metal, hinged together to admit of their being folded up, and having suitable
means for fastening the two movable augle arms at a fixed angle of 90 degrees to
one another.
When folded up, the angular measuring device forms a half cylinder of the same
size as the weight bar placed at the bottom end of the band or strip, so that both
bars together form a full cylindrical bar on which the band or strip may be
smoothly and safely rolled.
The rolled-up tubular band or strip may then be placed, together with the
angular measuring device, in a protective roll of cardboard or sheet metal.
When about to be used, the tubular band or strip is fixed against a smooth wall
in such a way that the flat under side of the weighting bar rests on the floor. The
person to be measured is then placed with his or her back against the table or
baud, and the angular measuring device is opened to an angle of 90 degrees, and
so placed against the tubular band that one arin projects over and just touches the
top of the head of the person to be measured, and the respective height of
this arm on the table is then marked in the column referring to the person in
question.
Dated this 20th day of July 1894.

page_text: A communication by EMIL VON LANGE, of Munich, in the Empire of Germany,
Director of the Royal Technical School.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.1.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This measuring device has for its object to take the height of persons in metrical
measurements or the like, by marking the heights of the bodies of persons on
bands or tables provided therefor, as well as by periodic repetition of the
measurements in youthful persons to ascertain their actual growth.
It is shown on the accompanying drawing on which
Figure 1 is a front elevation ;
Figure 2 a longitudinal section ;
Figures 3 and 4 are details and
Figure 5 is a view of the measuring device in a rolled up condition.
This metrograph or measuring device consists :-
Firstly, of a flat band or strip a about 2 metres in height and about
30 centimetres in width, made of paper or fabric, on which a metric scale, as
well as a series of blank columns are printed in a tabular form, separate columus
being allotted to different persons, such, for instance, as one column to each
member of a family. At the bottom end of the band or strip, a weight or
weighting piece b of wood or metal, in the form of a half cylindrical bar, is placed,
extending across the entire width of the strip, the flat under surface of this bar
enabling it to rest evenly on the floor, and this bar coincides with the zero of the
metric scale commencing vertically above it. At the head end or top of the strip
or band, there is a cross stiffening piece as well as a device (such as a ring or the
like) for suitably fastening the tubular strip or band against a wall.
Secondly, of an angular measuring device, consisting of two arms of wood or
metal, hinged together to admit of their being folded up, and having suitable
means for fastening the two moveable angle arms at a fixed angle of 90 degrees to
one another. This device may be of various shapes but the arrangement preferred
is shown in Figures 3 and 4.
The angular measuring device is capable of being folded up, and consists as may
be seen on the drawings of an arm c adapted to be placed against the band or
strip, and a moveable arm hinged at c to the arm c. The arm c² when extended
stands at right angles to the arm c¹ and when folded up rests in a slots in the
latter. The arm may be fixed in either position (folded up or extended) by
means of suitable fixing or clamping devices.
When folded up, the arm c' rests with its bevelled end f (see Figure 2) against
the bevelled surface f¹ of the arm c¹, so that the arm & cannot be pushed through
the slot and fall over the other side.
In order to prevent the arm from dropping down unexpectedly into the
position shown in Figure 2, it is only necessary to turn a small metal plate or
button p moveably attached at p' to the arm c², out of the position shown in dotted
lines in Figure 4, into that shown in full lines.
When the angular measuring device is extended so that both arms stand at
right angles to one another, the arm c³ is supported by the pint of the arm c¹,

page_text: whilst for fixing it on the other side the plate p may be turned out of the position
Figure 3 and rests partially in suitable recesses in the arm c¹ (not visable on the
drawing).
When folded up, the angular measuring device forms a half cylinder of the
same size as the weight bar placed at the bottom end of the band or strip, so that
both bars together form a full cylindrical bar on which the band or strip may be
smoothly and safely rolled, see Figure 5.
The rolled-up tubular band or strip may then be placed, together with the
angular measuring device, in a protective roll of cardboard or sheet metal.
When about to be used, the tubular band or strip is fixed against a smooth wall
in such a way that the flat under side of the weighting bar rests on the floor.
The person to be measured is then placed with his or her back against the table
or band, and the angular measuring device is opened to an angle of 90 degrees,
and so placed against the tubular band that one arm projects over and just touches
the top of the head of the person to be measured, and the respective height of
this arm on the table is then marked in the column referring to the person in
question.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
An improved device for use in taking personal measurements, consisting of a flat
band or strip (a) provided with a metric scale or the like and having at its bottom
end a weight or weighting bar and at its upper end an arrangement for
suspending it flat against a wall, in combination with a preferably folding angular
measuring device (c) which, when folded up, forms a half cylinder, and when
placed on the semi-cylindrical weighting bar (b) at the bottom end of the band
forms a complete cylinder on which the entire band may be rolled; substantially
as bereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of October 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.