Swiss Pattern Folding Compass and Divider
date: label: date made
content: ca 1900
notes: label: Description
content: The ends of this German silver instrument rotate at right angles to the legs. When the pointed ends of both legs are extended, the instrument works as a divider. The other side of one end has an adjustable pen point, and the other side of the other end has a holder, tightened by a metal ring, for a pencil lead. When one of these ends is extended, the instrument functions as a compass. The legs fold up inside themselves so the compass may be stored in a wooden case covered with black leather and lined with purple velvet. The instrument has no identifying marks. It is similar but not identical to a folding pocket compass sold for $5.00 (without a case) by W. & L. E. Gurley from at least 1903 to 1912.
label: Description
content: Englishman David Napier (1790–1876) is credited with inventing the folded compass in 1848. This version improves on the design by putting all of the joints in the same plane and is known as the "Swiss pattern," although makers all over Europe made these instruments.
label: Description
content: References: <i>A Manual of the Principal Instruments . . . Manufactured by W. & L. E. Gurley</i>, 37th ed. (Troy, N.Y., 1903), 309–310; <i>A Manual of the Principal Instruments . . . Manufactured by W. & L. E. Gurley</i>, 46th ed. (Troy, N.Y., 1912), 365–366; Maya Hambly, <i>Drawing Instruments: 1580–1980</i> (London: Sotheby's Publications, 1988), 83–84.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Drawing Instruments
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
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content: Dividers and Compasses
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Eunice L. Hoffman
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.335334
label: accession number
content: 305958
label: catalog number
content: 335334
objectType: label: Object Name
content: compass
label: Object Name
content: drawing compass and divider
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: velvet (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: in case: 1.8 cm x 9.3 cm x 4.2 cm; 23/32 in x 3 21/32 in x 1 21/32 in
label: Measurements
content: overall: .5 cm x 13.4 cm x 1.7 cm; 3/16 in x 5 9/32 in x 21/32 in