POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Goodman's hatchet planimeter

Object No. 2010/1/162

This object is part of a collection relating to the history and development of calculating devices assembled by Assoc Professor Allan Bromley of Sydney University, comprising mathematical instruments, slide-rules, mechanical and electronic calculators, electronic analogue computers, computer components, kit computers, education computers, and associated ephemera. Allan Bromley was a lecturer and researcher at the University of Sydney Basser Department of Computer Science from 1978 until his untimely death in August 2002. He specialised in Computer Architecture, Computer Logic and in particular the History of Computing. He was regarded as the world authority on Charles Babbage's Calculating Engines (instigating the building of the Difference Engine No.2 at the Science Museum London) and the Ankithera Mechanism and had extensive knowledge of calculators, analogue computers, logic, stereopsis, totalisators, clocks and time keeping and mechanical engineering.

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Summary

Object Statement

Hatchet planimeter with case and instruction sheet, Goodman's, stainless steel / leatherette / paper, made by Jackson Bros Ltd, Leeds, England, c.1920, designed by J. Goodman, Leeds, England, 1890

Physical Description

The Goodman's planimeter consists of a lightly curved rod with both ends bent into right angles. One end is flat allowing the instrument to be supported in a short cylindrical plinth, also made of a stainless steel, so that it can be used to trace out the area enclosed by a curve using a sharp "tracing point" located at the other end. The centre of the rod contains a ruler in square inches, engraved with markings from 0:40. The planimeter is housed in a blue velvet lined leather case, with specific areas cut out in the velvet to separate the device and the small cylindrical plinth. The instruction sheet is a two sided document, featuring on one side, the cover, complete with an image of the device in use and the back page, explaining the theories of the instrument. On the reverse, is the two inner pages of the booklet, defining the proper usage of the planimeter and a series of diagrams supporting this.

PRODUCTION

Notes

Jackson Bros. Ltd, [50 Call Lane] Leeds, c. 1920.

HISTORY

Notes

Purchased - Purton, Bermondsey Market, 30/04/1982, 13 pounds

SOURCE

Credit Line

Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program in memory of Associate Professor Allan Bromley, 2010

Acquisition Date

20 January 2010

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