Accession No

0229

Brief Description

calculigraphe (logarithmic calculator), by H. C., French [attributed], early 20th Century

Origin

France [attributed]

Maker

H. C.

Class

mathematics; calculating

Earliest Date

1900

Latest Date

1925

Inscription Date

Material

metal (white metal, brass, steel); glass

Dimensions

length 74mm; diameter 53mm; thickness 17mm

Special Collection

Provenance

The accession register records the allocation of this number to “Le Calculimetre” by G. Charpentier from the Hutchinson Collection. The identification of this description with this object seems uncertain.

Inscription

‘H C’ (on one side)
‘CALCULIGRAPHE’ (on other side’

Description Notes

Logarithmic calculating aid in form of fob watch with white metal casing and glazed both sides. One side has circular log scales of sines, numbers and squares running clockwise. Sine scale divided 6 - 90 numbered ‘6’, ‘7’, ‘8’, ‘9’, ‘10’, ‘12’, ‘14’, ‘16’, ‘18’, ‘20’, ‘25’, ‘30’ , ‘35’, ‘40’ , ‘45’, ‘50’, ‘60’, ‘70’, ‘80’, ‘90’; 6 - 20 divided to 10’; 20 - 30 divided to 20’; 30 - 45 divided to 30’; 45 - 70 divided to 1˚; 70 - 90 divided to 5˚. Scale of numbers divided 1 - [10], numbered ‘1’, ‘12’, ‘14’, ‘16’, ‘18’, ‘2’, ‘25’, ‘3’, ‘π’, ‘35’, ‘4’, ‘45’, ‘5’, ‘6’, ‘7’, ‘8’, ‘9’; 1 - 2 divided to 0.02; 2 - 6 divided to 0.05; 6 - 10 divided to 0.1. Scale of squares in two rings divided 1 - [10] numbered 1, 12, 14, 16, 18, 2, 25, 3, 35, 4, 45, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; 1 - 2 divided to 0.02; 2 - 6 divided to 0.05; 6 - 10 divided to 0.1. Central logo. Line at top of instrument acts as marker across all four scales. Central steel pointer. Other side carries log scale of cubes in 3 circles and scale of equal numbers. Scale of equal numbers divided anti-clockwise [0] - 10 numbered by 1 subdivided to 0.05. Scale of cubes divided anti-clockwise 1 - [10] numbered 1, 11, 12, 13 ... 19, 2, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 3, 32, 34, 36, 38, 4, 45, 5, 55, 6, 65, 7, 75, 8, 85, 9, 95; 1 - 2 divided to 0.01; 2 - 4 divided to 0.02; 4 - 10 divided to 0.05. Central steel pointer. Winding mechanism turns front disc anticlockwise. When moved while button on side of instrument is held down, the 2 steel pointers move, one clockwise the other anti-clockwise.

Condition good; complete

References

Mikey McGovern; 'Pocket calculating devices'; Explore Whipple Collections online article; Whipple Museum of the History of Science; University of Cambridge: https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/calculating-devices/pocket-calculating-devices

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