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The Anatomy of a Cane

The Anatomy of a Cane

The definition of Walking stick or Cane is "a stick or staff carried in the hand for support or amusement when walking". The name "Cane" originated from the Biblical Hebrew name "Kaneh" or "Can'ne", which is a tall sedgy reed plant with a hollow stem, growing in moist places and is used for cane production....

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Hanging in the Balance - Antique Scales

Hanging in the Balance - Antique Scales

The rapid development of electronics and computerization in the mid 20th century, and the invention of the digital scales, crowded out, almost entirely the use of mechanical scales. Because of this, the mechanical scales became collectors' items. Most mechanical scales are works of art, and are hand...

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Collector's Guide to Opera Glasses: History, Structure and More

Collector's Guide to Opera Glasses: History, Structure and More

The first binoculars were made of two parallel telescopes, in 1608 by the Dutch optician Hans Lipperhey. They had magnification capability of X3. One year later Galileo Galilee (1564-1642), the Italian philosopher and mathematician improved the telescope...

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How to Use Your New Camera Lucida

How to Use Your New Camera Lucida

What is a Camera Lucida? Latin for 'light chamber', the Camera Lucida, is an optical instrument that was invented in 1807 by William Hyde Wollaston to facilitate accurate sketching of objects. It consists of a prism with one reflective surface mounted on a small stand above a sheet of paper. The Camera...

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A 16th Century German Inclining String-Gnomon Sundial By Ulrich Schniep

A 16th Century German Inclining String-Gnomon Sundial By Ulrich Schniep

This is a portable sundial signed *15*V*S*85*, [VLRICH SCHNIEP 1585]. The instrument is composed of a gilt brass rectangular box 60 mm (2.3 inch) long with hinged lid, engraved with very beautiful decoration on all of its faces. The provenance of this dial is fully documented...

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Early Dynamometry and Dynamometers

Early Dynamometry and Dynamometers

The Dynamometer was invented in Europe during the second half of the 18th century. This article covers the early history of this unique instrument.

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The Marking of British Silver

The Marking of British Silver

The marking of British silver is one of the oldest pieces of consumer protection legislation in the world. The first statutes regulating the standard of silver and gold were laid down in an Act of 1300 during the reign of Edward I . A hallmarked piece indicates that the piece has been checked for purity...

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 Early Photographic Prints

Early Photographic Prints

Photographers in the nineteenth century employed a wide variety of materials and processes; many material types (copper, silver, albumen, cyanide, glass, paper and much more) were used in the effort to capture light and print pictures. In some cases there is no way to tell, short of exacting scientific...

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