Keuffel & Esser 8883 Triangular Chain Scale

This 12-inch triangular boxwood rule is grooved on each side. One side has scales divided to 1/10" (numbered by ones from 0 to 12) and 1/50" (numbered by twos from 0 to 60). This side is marked: 8883 K & E SCHOOL QUALITY. The second side has scales divided to 1/20" (numbered by ones from 0 to 24) and 1/40" (numbered by twos from 0 to 48). The third side has scales divided to 1/30" (numbered by twos from 0 to 36) and 1/60" (numbered by fours from 0 to 72).

William J. Ellenberger (1908–2008), who donated this object, studied electrical and mechanical engineering at The George Washington University between 1925 and 1934. He then worked for the Potomac Electric Power Company and the National Bureau of Standards. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was a civilian construction management engineer for the army from 1954 to 1968, when he became a private consultant.

Keuffel & Esser sold model 8883 from at least 1928. Sometime after 1928, K&E made this ruler out of plastic instead of boxwood.

References: "The GW Engineering Hall of Fame 2006 Inductees," http://www.weas.gwu.edu/ifaf/hall_of_fame_inductees_2006.php; "The Nature of Radio and Electricity," Radio Broadcast 13 (July 1928): 135.

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