Optical balance level, after a type used in the 17th Century, British, 1700-1799
Levelling is the method used by surveyors to determine the relative heights of different points on the earth's surface, but originally referred to the simple procedure of determining the horizontal. This crude instrument has a lead tube hanging from a fixed thread inside a protective case, with a slit at one end and a cross-hair at the other. The device would have been so easily disturbed that its use would have been extremely limited.
On display
Science Museum: Mathematics: The Winton Gallery
If you are visiting to see this object, please contact us in advance to make sure that it will be on display.
Details
- Category:
- Surveying
- Object Number:
- 1913-258/1
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy), glass, iron, lead (metal), mahogany (wood), steel (metal), wood (unidentified), wood veneer
- type:
- level
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- measuring device - instrument
- credit:
- Court, Thomas Henry
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
Download 
manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.
