Object Details
- E. O. Richter & Co.
- Description
- This folding wood and cardboard case is covered with black leather and lined with teal velvet. The back of the case is marked: MADE IN GERMANY. The snaps fastening the case are marked with a ring of decorative letter Ps. The insides of the snaps are marked: C-PM-C (/) C-PM-C. The letters P and M are superimposed on each other. Inside the top flap is also marked with a backward E and superimposed R and O. This is the trademark for E. O. Richter, a German firm that made mathematical instruments from 1892 to the 1980s. The set includes:
- 1) 2-1/2" German silver and steel screwdriver containing a metal bar and a pen nib.
- 2) 3-1/8" German silver pen handle containing four needle points.
- 3) 6-1/4" steel dividers with removable needle, pencil, and pen points, and extension bar. The center hinge is marked: Richter, followed by the Richter trademark.
- 4) 5-5/8" steel fixed-leg dividers. The center hinge is marked: Richter, followed by the Richter trademark.
- 5) 5-1/8" steel and 4-7/8" wood, German silver, and steel drawing pens. The blades are marked: PAT. AUG 9, 92 (/) MAY 7, 95. The backs of the blades are marked: T. A. & SON. These marks indicate the pens were made by Theodore Alteneder & Sons of Philadelphia. The pens do not fit their slots in the case and may not be original to the set.
- 6) 4-1/4" steel bow dividers, bow pencil, and bow pen. The side of each instrument is marked: D.R.P. (Richter held German patents on several of its drawing instruments.) Below the mark is the Richter trademark.
- The Smithsonian received this object in 1964. A date around 1930 would be consistent with other items received in the accession. The instruments are almost certainly newer than those in the similar set, 2007.0039.01.
- References: D. M. Riches, "E. O. Richter," http://www.mathsinstruments.me.uk/page51.html; Ferdinand A. Alteneder, "Drawing Pen" (U.S. Patent 480,541 issued August 9, 1892) and (U.S. Patent 538,811 issued May 7, 1895).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Llewellyn N. Edwards
- early 20th century
- ID Number
- MA.325684
- accession number
- 257193
- catalog number
- 325684
- Object Name
- drawing instruments, set of
- Physical Description
- german silver (overall material)
- steel (overall material)
- wood (overall material)
- leather (overall material)
- fabric (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 2.4 cm x 26.3 cm x 11.8 cm; 15/16 in x 10 11/32 in x 4 21/32 in
- place made
- Germany: Saxony, Chemnitz
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Science & Mathematics
- Drawing Instruments
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Drafting, Engineering
- Record ID
- nmah_1122144
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-947d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
