Dietzgen 1252 Politek Wallet Case of Drawing Instruments
Object Details
- distributor
- Eugene Dietzgen Company
- Description
- This folding case has a wooden base with two cardboard flaps. It is covered with black imitation leather and lined with purple velvet. The case fastens with two snaps marked with the trademark for the Eugene Dietzgen Company. The insides of the snaps are marked: P R Y M (/) 4H. The front flap is marked: 1252 PJL. The back of the case is marked: GERMANY (/) U.S. ZONE. Inside the top flap is marked: DIETZGEN (/) POLITEK. The set of instruments appears to be original and complete and includes:
- 1) 6-3/4" fixed-leg needle-point dividers, marked: DIETZGEN GERMANY.
- 2) 6-3/8" bow pencil with pen point attachment. One leg is marked: DIETZGEN GERMANY.
- 3) 5" bow pencil with pen point attachment. One leg is marked: DIETZGEN GERMANY. A 6-1/2" extension bar permits this instrument to function as a beam compass.
- 4) 5-1/2" black plastic and steel drawing pen marked: DIETZGEN GERMANY. The adjusting screw is numbered by twos from 0 to 8.
- 5) 3-1/16" black plastic and steel pen handle.
- 6) 2-1/2" blue screwdriver with German silver handle.
- 7) 1-1/16" black metal joint tightener.
- 8) 5/16" German silver thumbtack.
- Except as noted, the instruments may be made of a chromium-plated hard alloy. The reference to the American occupation zone after World War II dates this set to between 1945 and 1955. Neither the Politek brand nor model number were mentioned in Dietzgen's 1949 catalog. The Extens-o-Leg compass attachment was advertised in a 1953–1954 catalog for schools, further suggesting that the set was not manufactured until after 1950.
- References: Catalog of Eugene Dietzgen Co., 16th ed. (Chicago, 1949); Dietzgen School Catalog (Chicago, 1953–1954), 12.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of LaVerne Watkins
- 1950-1955
- ID Number
- 1989.0305.03
- catalog number
- 1989.0305.03
- accession number
- 1989.0305
- Object Name
- drawing instruments, set of
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- cardboard (overall material)
- imitation leather (overall material)
- fabric (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- plastic (overall material)
- Measurements
- case: 2.5 cm x 26.5 cm x 14.5 cm; 31/32 in x 10 7/16 in x 5 23/32 in
- place made
- Germany
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Science & Mathematics
- Drawing Instruments
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Drafting, Engineering
- Record ID
- nmah_1050950
- Metadata Usage (text)
- CC0
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-a3ba-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Related Content
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.