Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.14045

    Millionth measuring machine

    Date
    1877
    Creator
    Henry Adlard (1799 - 1893, British) , Engraver
    Object type
    Library reference
    RCN41234
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 175mm
    width (print): 246mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Side view of a Whitworth Company measuring machine, capable of detecting variations in length to one millionth of an inch.

    Figure 33 from the book The Whitworth measuring machine…, by T.M. Goodeve and C.P.B. Shelley (Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1877).

    In the accompanying text, the authors state that: ‘It will be readily understood that the measuring machine, as constructed, is rather a machine for comparison than for simple measurement…The apparatus is to be regarded as a machine for measuring very minute differences in the length of bars specially prepared for end measurement. It is therefore peculiarly adapted for multiplying copies of standards of length.’

    Inscribed below: ‘H. Adlard sc. FIG.33. PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF WHITWORTH’S MILLIONTH MEASURING MACHINE. London: Longman & Co.’

    Sir Joseph Whitworth (1803–1887), British mechanical engineer and machine tool manufacturer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1857.
    Associated place
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          > United Kingdom
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