Clement's Ellipsograph in mahogany case (16 3/4" x 16" x 4 7/8") (no key); with accessories including key

Clement's Ellipsograph in mahogany case (16 3/4" x 16" x 4 7/8") (no key); with accessories including key, screwdriver, pen, engraving point etc. Engraved.-"Joseph Clement Invenit, Holtzapffel and Deyerlein, London, Fecerunt"

In 1818 Joseph Clement presented his design of an ellipsograph to the Society of Arts and won the gold medal. As it performed several other functions besides drawing ellipses, it was more complex than the first English ellipsograph designed by John Farey eight years earlier. In 1817 Clement started his own shop in South London where he would work until his death. It was whilst here that he would develop this machine that allowed engineers to draw ellipses and circles quickly and with precision for machine parts such as the teeth of cogwheels and the threads of screws. With such reputation and experience for precision instruments, Clement, who has also been called ‘the first computer engineer’, was hired to build Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine, a calculating machine that is considered to be a mechanical forerunner of the modern computer.

Details

Category:
Mathematics
Object Number:
1923-50
type:
curve drawing instruments and ellipsographs
credit:
Perigal, F.B.

Parts

Accessory case and parts for Clement's Ellipsograph

Accessory case and parts for Clement's Ellipsograph

Small accessory case with parts for Clement's Ellipsograph

Object Number:
1923-50 Pt1
type:
instrument case
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Passe-partout drawing done with Clement's Ellipsograph

Passe-partout drawing done with Clement's Ellipsograph

Passe-partout drawing done with Clement's Ellipsograph

Object Number:
1923-50 Pt2
type:
drawing
Clement's Ellipsograph with accessories including key

Clement's Ellipsograph with accessories including key

Clement's Ellipsograph with accessories including key, screwdriver, pen, engraving point etc. Engraved.-"Joseph Clement Invenit, Holtzapffel and Deyerlein, London, Fecerunt"

More

In 1818 Joseph Clement presented his design of an ellipsograph to the Society of Arts and won the gold medal. As it performed several other functions besides drawing ellipses, it was more complex than the first English ellipsograph designed by John Farey eight years earlier. In 1817 Clement started his own shop in South London where he would work until his death. It was whilst here that he would develop this machine that allowed engineers to draw ellipses and circles quickly and with precision for machine parts such as the teeth of cogwheels and the threads of screws. With such reputation and experience for precision instruments, Clement, who has also been called ‘the first computer engineer’, was hired to build Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine, a calculating machine that is considered to be a mechanical forerunner of the modern computer.

Object Number:
1923-50 Pt3
type:
curve drawing instruments and ellipsographs
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum