Inventors
The History
of Measurement and Measuring Tools
Among the earliest length measures was the foot, which varied
from place to place There were two common sizes for a "foot" - the foot of
246 to 252 mm based on a man's bare foot - the foot of 330 to 335 mm based
on two hand measurements. The first calibrated foot ruler was invented in
1675 by an unknown inventor.
A
History of Measurement and Metrics
From Noah's ark to modern times, the
history of measurement and measuring tools.
A Brief History
of Measurement Systems
Weights and measures were among the
earliest tools invented by man. Primitive societies needed rudimentary measures
for many tasks: constructing dwellings of an appropriate size and shape,
fashioning clothing, or bartering food or raw materials.
A Dictionary of Measures,
Units and Conversions
This provides a summary of most of the
units of measurement to be found in use around the world today (and a few
of historical interest), together with the appropriate conversion.
Historical Facts about
Measuring Devices
We know that for as long as history has
been recorded there have been standards of length defined. Three different
Greek standards are known. The Doric foot, the Attic foot and the Samian foot.
Measuring Devices
The makers and markers of gauges, rules,
squares & tapes.
Specific Instruments
Altimeter
An instrument which measures vertical
distance with respect to a reference level. Louis Paul Cailletet was
the French physicist who invented the altimeter.
Carpenter Square
- Drafting -
Drafting
Equipment
Clocks &
Timekeeping
The invention of the quartz watch, mechanical
clocks, timekeeping devices, time.
The Protractor
An instrument used to construct and
measure plane angles. The simple protractor looks like a semicircular disk
marked with degrees, from 0º to 180º. The simple protractor is
an ancient device. The first complex protractor was created for plotting the
position of a boat on navigational charts. Called a three-arm protractor
or station pointer, it was invented in 1801, by Joseph Huddart, a U.S. naval
captain. The center arm is fixed, while the outer two are rotatable, capable
of being set at any angle relative to the center one.
Sextant
In 1731, Thomas Godfrey and John Hadley independently invented the reflecting
quadrant, a precursor to the sextant. John Campbell invented the sextant in 1757. The
octant could only measure latitude, and not longitude. Royal Naval Captain John Campbell's sextant
could measure both longitude and latitude.
More listings to come...
Related Information
The
History of Mathematics
Office Innovations
©Mary Bellis
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