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Darling, Brown & Sharpe Astronomical Linear Slide Rule

National Museum of American History

Object Details

patentee
Darling, Samuel
Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company
Description
This large mahogany linear astronomical slide rule is covered with strips of German silver. There are two slides, each of which have scales on both sides. Each slide has a knob near one end for moving it; these may be unscrewed and attached on the reverse side. One slide is marked COLLIMATION on one side and AZIMUTH on the other. The other slide is marked LEVEL AZIMUTH on one side and REFRACTION on the other. The base has four identical, unlabeled logarithmic scales, each of which runs from 1 to 10 twice (with a bit more at each end).
On the center portion of the base, the instrument is marked Darling Brown & Sharpe Providence R.I. Darling, Brown & Sharpe did business under that name from 1866 to 1892. For additional company history, see 1977.0460.01. According to records of the United States Naval Observatory, this slide rule was purchased for $154.00 in December 1887. Few slide rules specifically for astronomy survive, so these large and expensive objects were probably not widely used. Compare to two late 19th-century rules held by the Powerhouse Museum, http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=233017.
Reference: Ledger of Instruments Purchased by the U.S. Naval Observatory, ca. 1845–1906, United States Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Transfer from U.S. Naval Observatory
1887
ID Number
1987.0693.01
catalog number
328994
accession number
1987.0693
Object Name
slide rule
Physical Description
german silver (laminate material)
mahogany (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 6.9 cm x 112 cm x 15.4 cm; 2 23/32 in x 44 3/32 in x 6 1/16 in
place made
United States: Rhode Island, Providence
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Science & Mathematics
Slide Rules
National Museum of American History
Subject
Mathematics
Rule, Calculating
Astronomy
Record ID
nmah_1215066
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-5ff8-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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Astronomical Slide Rule by Darling, Browne and Sharpe.
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
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IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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