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History of Science Museum

Home-Made Measuring Device, English?, 20th Century

Inventory Number 48054


Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.48054

Item type
Object
Primary inscriptions
"TRADE MARK / EP" stamped on one of the rules. A 252mm long linear scale marked [0]-34 on the other rule is stamped "8.SQUARE.E".
Inventory No
48054

Description

A device of uncertain purpose, apparently made in partial imitation of the reflecting principle of a sextant or octant. Two commercially-produced joint rules (radius 12") have been screwed together, and a plane metal mirror and sighting tube attached. The tube is positioned so that half its field of view is occupied by the mirror. There is no direct means of measuring angles, though in principle the folding legs could be used to create measurable triangles.