Talking Points

Chapter 4 of "66 centuries of Measurement" Jacques Cassini A proposal for a permanent standard of length came in 1718 from Jacques Cassini, head of the Paris Observatory. After measuring the arc of the meridian from Dunkirk to Perpignan, Cassini suggested as a permanent standard of length 1/6000 part of a minute of the great circle of the earth – approximately one third of our present yard. Early 18th century metrology was by and large a personal matter of the comparatively few persons who had...

Chapter 3 of "66 Centuries of Measurement" During this time the Renaissance had begun. Great universities such as Vienna, Heidelberg, Leipzig, and Louvein had been founded. Gutenberg had set up his first printing press. Leonardo Da Vinci, the great artist, architect, engineer and philosopher was making his immortal reputation. In his notebooks appear several designs for screw cutting machines. The screw, after a thousand years of oblivion, had reappeared in Europe. By 1360 the first mechanical...

Chapter 2 of "66 Centuries of Measurement" Except for progress made by the Arabs, and a temporary revival under Charlemagne about 800 A.D., academic progress was practically non-existent. Arabic Numerals We are pone to take our system of numerals pretty much for granted, but consider for a moment what a task it would be to dimension a drawing if we were restricted to the cumbersome Roman Numerals of about 1100 A.D. As an instance, 2814 would have been expressed as MMDCCCXIIII in Rome at that ...

Chapter 1 of "66 Centuries of Measurement" We can only speculate on how man came to conceive the idea of measurement. The underlying reasons doubtless were his inherent curiosity and the constant urge to improve his mode of living. Also, his determination to improvise whatever means were needed to achieve each step in his continued progress. Very early in his development man began to wonder “why.” The only tangible basis for speculating on the events which led to the concept of measurement is ...

  The recent IMTS show is always a good time to catch up with friends and acquaintances from the industry. Sometimes you reminisce about shows past, products once launched, and often, sadly, colleagues that are no longer with us. This year, someone stopped by to reminisce about a little red book. "I can't even remember what it was called," he said.  "But it had a pyramid on the cover. Do you still make those?" he asked. "Ah! 66 Centuries of Measurement!" I said. "We haven't made tho...