Charpentier Calculimetre Multidisc Circular Slide Rule
date: label: date made
content: ca 1925
notes: label: Description
content: This brass circular slide rule is the size and shape of a pocket watch. The base is a silver-colored disc surrounding a rotating brass ring. The silver-colored indicator, which moves the brass ring and a forked pointer screwed to the center of the instrument, is attached to a small suspension ring. The indicator extends around the back of the instrument for use in reading the scales inscribed there.
label: Description
content: Three scales are on the front: two logarithmic scales on the outermost rings (the equivalent of D and C scales on a linear slide rule) and a two-part scale for square roots around the silver-colored circle at the center (corresponding to the A scale on a linear slide rule). Around the center is engraved: CALCULIMETRE G. CHARPENTIER; BREVETÉ S.G.D.G. The serial number 35 is engraved below "Charpentier." The back of the instrument bears a scale of equal parts, a logarithmic scale, and an innermost scale of equal parts. The indicator arm is engraved: FRANCE.
label: Description
content: Around 1882, G. Charpentier patented this design in France (as indicated by the "breveté" mark) and Great Britain. Several French instrument makers manufactured the device. In the United States, the Calculimetre was retailed for $5.00 by Keuffel & Esser from 1895 to 1927 and by Dietzgen from 1904 to 1931. According to the donor, John W. Olson, a Wall Street investment banker and collector of "unusual items" named Edward Hamilton Leslie purchased this slide rule around 1925.
label: Description
content: References: Robert K. Otnes, "The Charpentier Calculator," <i>Journal of the Oughtred Society</i> pilot issue, vol. 0, no. 0 (1991): 9–11; Florian Cajori, <i>A History of the Logarithmic Slide Rule and Allied Instruments</i> (New York: Engineering News Publishing Company, 1909), 94; Peter M. Hopp, <i>Slide Rules: Their History, Models, and Makers</i> (Mendham, N.J.: Astragal Press, 1999), 81, 161, 193; <i>Catalogue & Price List of Eugene Dietzgen Co.</i>, 7th ed. (Chicago, 1904), 174; <i>Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co.</i>, 33rd ed. (New York, 1909), 307.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: France
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Rule, Calculating
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
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content: Science & Mathematics
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content: Slide Rules
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of John W. Olson
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1995.0261.01
label: accession number
content: 1995.0261
label: catalog number
content: 1995.0261.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating rule
label: Object Name
content: slide rule
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (part material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: .7 cm x 6 cm x 6 cm; 9/32 in x 2 3/8 in x 2 3/8 in