Subject: Re: [HM] OED seeks origin of term "marquois scale"
From: Prof. Lueneburg (luene@mathematik.uni-kl.de)
Date: Wed Dec 31 1969 - 18:59:59 EST
Dear Colleagues,
I asked a friend of drawing instruments about the Marquois scale. Here is
what he answered me:
> ---------
> Maya Hambly, Drawing Instruments 1580-1980, London 1988
>
>
> "Marquois scales were devised by a captain of that name c. 1780 for use
> with his system of surveying for military purposes. Equidistant parallel
> lines could be drawn with speed and accuracy using his special
> plain-edged scales together with a triangle. The triangle easily
> recognizable since it has two plain and one bevelled edge, is set with
> angles of 222" and 67," and has two sides marked with an index matrix.
> Sets of these special Marquois scales continued to be made throughout
> the nineteenth century."
> S. 119/120
>
> "Some comprehensive magazine cases were especially equipped for
> engineers, particularly railway or military engineers. For the former
> the cases were fitted with sets of railway curves and scales; for the
> latter with Marquois scales and triangles (see page 120). The best were
> made of mahogany, from 14 to 24 in (355 to 610 mm) long, but as an
> alternative field cases were also made of black japanned steel by such
> makers as Cary [I47] and Elliott. The latter would have been suitable
> for those working in tropical countries or for those carrying out
> surveys in exposed condition."
> p. 155/156
>
> ---------
>
Best regards, Heinz Lueneburg
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Wed Feb 02 2000 - 05:30:48 EST