Pen Point for Drawing Compass

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.

View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

Description

This leg for a drawing compass has a brass top, which is jointed, and German silver pen points with an adjusting screw. Loosening the screw increases the width of the pen line to be drawn. At the turn of the 20th century, compasses frequently came with interchangeable legs, one for drawing with pencil lead and one for drawing with ink. The compass to which this pen point belonged may have been part of a set of drawing instruments. Due to its different shape and materials, it is probably not from the same compass as MA.335336.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Eunice L. Hoffman

date made

ca 1900

ID Number

MA.335338

accession number

305958

catalog number

335338

Object Name

pen point

compass, drawing (partial)

Physical Description

brass (overall material)

metal (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 9 cm x 1.1 cm x .6 cm; 3 17/32 in x 7/16 in x 1/4 in

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Mathematics

Science & Mathematics

Dividers and Compasses

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Subject

Mathematics

Drawing Instruments

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-498a-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_904320