Beam Compasses

From Inventions

Name currently used. In the Renaissance it was called sestone (sextant).

Contents 1 Historic Period 2 Description 3 Bibliographical Resources 4 Existing Instruments 5 Links (External) 6 Images

Historic Period

XV-XVI century.

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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.

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Bibliographical Resources

Della Volpaia, Benvenuto, Macchine e strumenti, ms., XVI secolo, Venezia, Biblioteca Marciana, It. IV, 41 (= 5363), c. 53r-v, 56r.

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Existing Instruments

- Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 51264

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Links (External)

http://www.tpub.com/engbas/2-11.htm (English)
http://www.mathsinstruments.me.uk/page63.html (English)

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Images

Benvenuto Della Volpaia, Macchine e strumenti, ms., XVI secolo, Venezia, Biblioteca Marciana, It. IV, 41 (= 5363), c. 53r.

Benvenuto Della Volpaia, Macchine e strumenti, ms., XVI secolo, Venezia, Biblioteca Marciana, It. IV, 41 (= 5363), c. 53v.

Benvenuto Della Volpaia, Macchine e strumenti, ms., XVI secolo, Venezia, Biblioteca Marciana, It. IV, 41 (= 5363), c. 56r.

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Author of the entry: Filippo Camerota