Caliper Compasses
From Inventions
Name currently used to indicate the compass with curved points.
Contents |
Historic Period
15th cent.
Description
Compass for measuring the diameters of columns, cannonballs, calibers and shot. It could have legs curved inward, to measure the "diametri di fora" (outside diameters) of columns and cannonballs, or straight legs with points curving outward, to measure "diametri di dentro" (inside diameters) (mouths of cannon). It is also known as spherical compass.
Bibliographical Resources
Pomodoro, Giovanni. Geometria prattica tratta dagl'Elementi d'Euclide ed altri Auttori da Giovanni Pomodoro Venetiano Mathematico eccellentissimo descritta et dichiarata da Giovanni Scala Mathematico, Stefano de' Paulini, Roma, 1599.
Existing Instruments
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, Inv. 3693.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, Inv. 3706.
Images
 Jacob Leupold. Theatrum machinarum, oder Schau-Platz des grundes mecanischer Wissenschaften / deutlich vor Augen gestellet von Jacob Leupold, Leipzig, 1724-1739, tav. XXIV-XXV. |
 Nicolas Bion. Traité de la construction et des principaux usages des instruments de mathematique, Paris, 1725, tav. 8. |
Author of the entry: Filippo Camerota
