Dutch El
date: label: date made
content: before 1820
notes: label: Description
content: This wooden rectangular rule consists of a fluted handle with a carved head at the end and a tapered, ruled part. The rule is cracked between two nails below the handle on the side with the head's face. On the side with the back of the head, the rule is marked with straight lines that are 27.5, 38.5, 42.0, 49.7, 53.2, 56.9, 60.8, 64.5, and 68.1 cm from the base of the handle (or, 44.5, 33.5, 30.0, 22.3, 18.8, 15.1, 11.2, 7.5, and 3.9 cm from the tip of the rule). The mark at 49.7 cm is an asterisk rather than a plain line.
label: Description
content: The Dutch el is a traditional "arm's length" measure commonly used before The Netherlands adopted the metric system in 1820. The el was 68–70 cm on average, but this example is slightly longer at 72 cm, excluding the handle. Compare to MA.318246, MA.318248, and MA.325404.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: The Netherlands
topic: label: Subject
content: Rule, Measuring
label: Subject
content: Mathematics
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content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
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content: Science & Mathematics
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content: Scale Rules
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content: Measuring & Mapping
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.318247
label: accession number
content: 235396
label: catalog number
content: 318247
objectType: label: Object Name
content: scale rule
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1.7 cm x 84 cm x 2 cm; 21/32 in x 33 1/16 in x 25/32 in