Mathematical Instrument by T. S. & J. D. Negus
notes: label: Description
content: Brothers Thomas S. Negus (1828-1894) and John Davidson Negus (1831-1890), dealers in navigational instruments in New York City, were the sons of English immigrants to the United States. Thomas began dealing in nautical instruments around 1848, and his brother joined him within a few years. The firm remained in business until the 1960s.
label: Description
content: This particular instrument consists of a trapezoidal metal frame in which wire may be wound to produce eleven lines converging toward a point outside the short side of the trapezoid. An ivory handle is attached to the side of the trapezoid opposite the shortest. The leftmost wire is not numbered; the remaining wires are numbered from 1 to 10. A mark on the handle reads: TS&J.D.Negus.
label: Description
content: No example of this instrument appears in Nevus catalogs from 1899 and from about 1936.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: Burt Cifrulak, “A Marine Chronomerter’s Story,” <I>NAWCC Watch and Clock Bulletin</I>, September/October 2015, pp. 439-448.
label: Description
content: T. S. and J.D. Negus, <I>Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of Nautical and Optical Instruments. . .</I>, New York, 1899.
label: Description
content: T. S. and J.D. Negus, <I>Illustrated Catalog of Nautical Instruments</I>, New York, ca. 1936. The cover indicates that the firm was founded in 1848.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1988.0579.02
label: accession number
content: 1988.0579
label: catalog number
content: 1988.0579.02
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Instrument, Mathematical
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: ivory (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 cm x 4.5 cm x 17.2 cm; 13/32 in x 1 25/32 in x 6 25/32 in