Spirograph and examples of patterns drawn using it

Made:: 1886 in Vienna

maker:: Peter Hubert Desvignes

Spirograph and examples of patterns drawn using it

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Spirograph with attachments for drawing correctly the most elaborate spiral patterns; made by P.H. Desvignes Vienna, height 14 3/4 inches, diameter of table 13 1/2 inches

Between 1845 and 1848, Desvignes, who worked in Vienna, constructed a machine he called a spirograph, similar to a geometric chuck, for preventing forgeries in banknotes. It could also be used for engraving onto copper plates by a diamond point. These drawings show some of the possibilities with his machine.

Details

Category:: Mathematics

Object Number:: 1886-27

type:: spirograph

credit:: Mr P.H. Desvignes

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Parts

Spirograph made by P H Desvignes

Spirograph for drawing correctly the most elaborate spiral patterns; made by P.H. Desvignes Vienna, height 14 3/4 inches, diameter of table 13 1/2 inches

Object Number:: 1886-27 Pt1

type:: spirograph

Spirograph made by P H Desvignes

Spirograph for drawing correctly the most elaborate spiral patterns; made by P.H. Desvignes Vienna. This part is bronze with multiple cogs, chains and adjustment wheels.

Materials:: brass

Object Number:: 1886-27 Pt1/1

type:: spirograph

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Part of:: 1886-27 Pt1

component for spirograph

Component for spirograph made by P.H. Desvignes Vienna. This part consists of a wooden base, with two brass rings attached together in numerous places, there are two metalic bars attaching the two sides of the top ring together.

Materials:: brass and wood

Object Number:: 1886-27 Pt1/2

type:: component

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Part of:: 1886-27 Pt1

component for spirograph

Components for spirograph made by P.H. Desvignes Vienna. There are multiple components which make up this part, all made mostly of brass. There is one metal bar with a pin at one end. One is made up of multiple cogs which looks like it is an adjustmen piece. One compoent has a rectagnular frame with a cog at one end, multiple srews at different places and an adjustable piece down one side. The final part is an ajustable part which has a cog in the middle.

Materials:: brass

Object Number:: 1886-27 Pt1/3

type:: component

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Part of:: 1886-27 Pt1

Attachments and accessories

Attachments and accessories, for Spirograph made by P.H. Desvignes Vienna

Object Number:: 1886-27 Pt2

type:: component - object

set of wooden components for Spirograph

A set of components for Spirograph made by P.H. Desvignes, Vienna. There are eight wooden components with a hole in the middle, each with different sections cut out the side, one is round, one is square, one is triangular and five are circular but have elements cut out of them. There are an additional five components which are adjustment tools. There is one screw, one brass washer with four holes, one central and three around the edge. There is one wooden plate with a section cut out. And two reels of string.