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Measuring Rod
Unsigned
circa 1600; German
Gilt brass; 340 mm in length

This instrument consists of three telescopic square rods, of which the innermost rod is solid. Each has scales on all four sides. A foot consisting of two square plates of diminishing size, but larger than the outer-most rod, allows the instrument to stand vertically. A sliding index with a clamping screw fitting moves over the outermost rod. The innermost rod is topped by a turned finial.

The index is marked for linear measures and specific gravities of metals corresponding to the scales on the outermost rod as follows:

1) 'ZOL SCHVCH' (inch and foot), 'GOLD'.

2) 'QVECK SILBER' (quick silver) 'BLEY' (lead).

3) 'SILBER' (silver) 'KVPFER' (copper).

4) 'EISEN' (iron), 'ZIN' (tin).

The linear scales are calibrated as follows:

'ZOL/ SCHVCH': 1 to 12, numbered by 1, divided to 1/4. One unit equals 25 mm.

'GOLD': 2 ? 1 to 16, 1 ? 1 to 101/2, numbered by 1, divided to 1/4 and 1/16. Unit 7 mm.

'QVECK SILBER': 1 to 16 and 1 to 141/2, numbered by 1, divided to 1/4 and 1/16.

'BLEY': 1 to 16, and 1 to 81/2, numbered by 1, divided to 1/4 and 1/16. One unit equals 9.5 mm.

'SILBER': 1 to 16 and 1 to 7, 1/2, numbered by 1, divided to 1/4 and 1/16. Unit 12.5 mm.

'KVPFER': 1 to 16 and 1 to 3, 1/2, numbered by 1, divided to 1/4 and 1/16. One unit equals 15 mm.

'EISEN': 1 to 16 and 1 to 11/2, numbered by 1, divided to 1/4 and 1/16. One unit equals 17 mm.

'ZIN' : 1 to 16, 1/2, numbered by 1, divided to 1/4 and 1/16. One unit equals 18.5 mm.

The middle rod has scales which appear to indicate the correspondence between silver ('SILBER') and different currencies ('VNGARIS', 'KRONEN' and 'REINISCH').

These linear scales are calibrated as follows:

'SILBER': 1 to 16, numbered by 1 and divided to 1/4 and 1/16. One unit equals 15 mm.

'VNGARIS': 1 to 68, numbered by 5 and divided to 1/5 and 1/10. One unit equals 3.5 mm.

'KRONEN': 1 to 70, divided to 1/5, 1/10, and 1/20.

'REINISCH': 1 to 73, numbered by 5 1/5 and 1/10.

The innermost rod has a 12 inch scale and non-linear scales for shot, marked 'STAIN' (stone), 'EISEN' (iron), and 'BLEY' (lead). The scales are calibrated as follows:

The inch scale is marked 1 to 12, numbered by 1 and divided to 1/2 and 1/4. One unit equals 25.3 mm.

'STAIN': 1 to 50, numbered by 1 from 1 to 5 and by 5 from 5 to 50, and divided to 1.

'EISEN': 1 to 100, numbered by 1 from 1 to 5 and by 5 from 5 to 10, and divided to 1.

'BLEY': 1 to 100, numbered by 1 from 1 to 5 and by 5 from 5 to 100, and divided to 1.

The instrument was presented by Max Rosenheim in 1902 and is described in W. Eckhardt, "Erasmus and Josua Habermel: Kunstgeschichtliche Anmerkungen zu den Werken der beiden Instrumentenmacher", Jahrbuch der Hamburger Kunstsammlungen 22 (1977), p. 65, no. 181; and F. A. B. Ward, A Catalogue of European Scientific Instruments in the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities of the British Museum (London, 1981), p. 88, no. 249.

Silke Ackermann

British Museum, London
Registration no. MLA 1902,4-12.1

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