Beam Compasses
From Inventions
Name currently used. In the Renaissance it was called sestone (sextant).
Contents |
Historic Period
XV-XVI century.
Description
Compass for drawing large circumferences composed of a long rod with two cursors sliding along it, carrying a fixed point and a pen point.
Bibliographical Resources
Della Volpaia, Benvenuto, Macchine e strumenti, ms., XVI secolo, Venezia, Biblioteca Marciana, It. IV, 41 (= 5363), c. 53r-v, 56r.
Images
Biblioteca digitale, Bion 1727, ill. 15.jpg
Nicolas Bion. Traité de la construction et des principaux usages des instruments de mathematique, Paris, 1725, tav. 8. |
Author of the entry: Filippo Camerota