Hinged Parallel Rule
date: label: date made
content: early 19th century
notes: label: Description
content: This 6" ebony instrument has three blades, apparently cut from a single rectangle of wood, and is held together by intricate brass hinges. Surveyors, cartographers, navigators, and draftsmen began using parallel rules in the 18th century to easily draw parallel lines separated by various widths. These instruments were also used for reducing or enlarging scaled drawings.
label: Description
content: According to the donor, the rule was brought to this continent by Alexander Matheson (1788–1866), an English officer who brought troops from the West Indies to fight against the Americans in the War of 1812. After the war, he helped build the Rideau Canal and settled near Perth, Ontario. His grandson, Alexander Matheson Richey (1826–1913), a lumberman who moved to Chicago, also used the instrument.
label: Description
content: References: Maya Hambly, <i>Drawing Instruments: 1580–1980 </i> (London: Sotheby's Publications, 1988), 111; Ken W. Watson, "Smiths Falls Locks 28–31," <i>Rideau Canal World Heritage Site</i>, http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/locks/h28-31-smithsfalls.html; "The Town of Perth: The Settlement of Retired Military Heroes on 'the Scotch Line,'" <i>Toronto Daily Mail</i> (May 14, 1887), 6–7, 10; accession file.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United Kingdom: England
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Drafting, Engineering
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content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
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content: Science & Mathematics
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content: Parallel Rules
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content: Measuring & Mapping
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Ada B. Richey
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.321753
label: catalog number
content: 321753
label: accession number
content: 243754
objectType: label: Object Name
content: parallel rule
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: ebony (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: .2 cm x 15.2 cm x 3.6 cm; 3/32 in x 5 31/32 in x 1 13/32 in