Lasico 130-E Mechanical Integrator with Electronic Readout

Maximilian Berktold (b. 1929) immigrated from Kempten-Allgäu, West Germany, in 1950 and almost immediately began working for the Los Angeles Scientific Instrument Company. He oversaw design and production of the firm's planimeters, integrators, pantographs, and various optical instruments until Lasico closed in 2008.

This is the electronic version of the Lasico mechanical integrator 130. It has a metal framework painted green that carries two guide wheels, two reference guides (one for moment of inertia and the other for moment of area) and a tracer arm with two tracer points. The guide wheels fit into a metal guide rail. Two reference guides also fit into the guide rail and a metal counter weight fits into the framework, resting on the other side of the rail.

In addition to these pieces, there are three digital readouts for displaying measurements of area (marked A), moment of area (marked M), and moment of inertia (marked I).

All the pieces of the instrument, other than the rail, fit into a leather-covered wooden case. A photograph of Berktold is taped to the inside lid of the case, as well as a sheet of information about the instrument. This sheet gives a date of 1985. The guide rail is longer than the case is wide (it measures 78.5 cm. w. x 5 cm. d. x 1.3 cm. h.), and is stored separately.

A related pamphlet is entitled “The Lasico Mechanical Integrator.”

Compare 2011.0043.04.

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