Object Details
- Wager-Smith, Edward
- Description
- This paper linear slide rule was designed to assist architects and construction workers with computing the strength of steel beams. There are seven scales: A, safe load in pounds per square foot; B, section of beams; C, spacing of beams in feet; D, span in feet; E, total safe load in net tons; F, manner of loading; G, span in feet. Scales A-B-C-D are meant to be used together, as are scales E-B-F-G. The back of the instrument gives instructions. The instrument fits in an orange paper envelope.
- The front of the instrument and the envelope are marked: The Merritt Beam Scale (/) FOR COMPUTING THE STRENGTH OF STEEL BEAMS. They also are both marked: THE JOHN HOWARD HERRICK CO. (/) BALTIMORE, MD., U.S.A. and PRICE ONE DOLLAR. The front of the instrument also is marked: Copyright (/) 1899 (/) by (/) James S. Merritt (/) M.E. and PAT. JULY 1ST, 1902. This last mark refers to a patent for a "slide-scale" taken out on that date by the mechanical engineer James S. Merritt of Philadelphia. The Merritt Beam Scale was mentioned in a textbook as late as 1921.
- Although the instrument is named for Merritt, its invention is credited to Edward Wager-Smith (1872–1920), who worked for Merritt & Co. of Philadelphia from 1893 to 1910. See also his Wager Timber Scale (1987.0108.01).
- References: James S. Merritt, "Slide Scale" (U.S. Patent 703,437 issued July 1, 1902); "Wager-Smith, E.," National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (New York: James T. White, 1926), xix:136–137; Ernst McCullough, Practical Structural Design (New York: U.P.C. Co., 1921), 81.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Transfer from Smithsonian Institution Libraries
- 1902-1921
- ID Number
- 1987.0108.02
- accession number
- 1987.0108
- catalog number
- 1987.0108.02
- Object Name
- slide rule
- Physical Description
- paper (overall material)
- metal (part material)
- Measurements
- overall: .3 cm x 24.8 cm x 10.2 cm; 1/8 in x 9 3/4 in x 4 1/32 in
- place made
- United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Engineering, Building, and Architecture
- Science & Mathematics
- Slide Rules
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Rule, Calculating
- Carpentry
- Record ID
- nmah_1215040
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-9138-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
