Set of Drawing Instruments
date: label: date made
content: early 19th century
notes: label: Description
content: This polished wooden case is lined with green satin and velvet and is fastened with two brass hooks. It holds ten brass and steel drawing instruments and attachments:
label: Description
content: 1) A 5-3/4" pair of dividers with a leg that may be removed by loosening two screws.
label: Description
content: 2) A 5-1/2" pair of dividers with a leg removed by loosening one thumbscrew. The point on the other leg is broken.
label: Description
content: 3) Two drawing pens (2-5/8" and 1-3/4") with short brass handles.
label: Description
content: 4) A 2-3/8" pricker.
label: Description
content: 5) A 4" extension bar that can be inserted into the second pair of dividers.
label: Description
content: 6) Pen and pencil points that fit the second pair of dividers.
label: Description
content: 7) A 3-3/4" compass with only one leg and a pen point that fits this compass.
label: Description
content: Because they fit snugly in the case and have matching blue screws, both pairs of dividers, the pen and pencil points for the second pair of dividers, the compass and pen point, and the shorter drawing pen are likely original to the set. The Smithsonian acquired this object in 1960. It probably dates to the early 19th century.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Drafting, Engineering
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
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content: Drawing Instruments
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.317358
label: accession number
content: 230279
label: catalog number
content: 317358
objectType: label: Object Name
content: drawing instruments, set of
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: steel (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: fabric (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 2.5 cm x 16.8 cm x 12.1 cm; 31/32 in x 6 5/8 in x 4 3/4 in