Drawing Instruments:Ellipsographs

Good Electrum and Steel Ellipsograph or Elliptical Trammel by J & W E ARCHBUTT.

201, Westminster. Bridge Road. Lambeth.

It has Large and Small Crosses with Pen and Pencil Attachments and Ivory Support Wheel. In Original Mahogany Box.

Steel Beam 11"  Large Cross 3" Small Cross 2" Box 14. 1/2" X 3. 3/4"

English, after 1812, unsigned, but similar to examples signed by W. & W. Jones. Made of brass and consisting of a framework of parallel rulers and 4" diameter concentric circles, with a central crossbar and socket to hold a pen or pencil. The circles can be moved by a small rack & pinion, with a pair of milled screw heads, which enable different varieties of ellipse to be drawn. This rare early ellipsograph is in very good overall condition, missing the bow pen and pencil holder, in its original 7" x 6 1/2" x 1 1/2" polished mahogany case.

Farey was awarded a Gold Medal by the Society of Arts in 1812 when he presented his protoype ellipsograph together with a paper on its use. Examples of Farey's ellipsographs can be seen in several English museum collections, but few are known in private collections. 

Large Elliptical Trammel signed  on the Cross & the Trammel John Hay. Gilder, Newcastle on Tyne. John Hay. Gilder was also recorded as working in Aberdeen. Scotland. Cross 14"  Trammel 36"

Early Farey Ellipsograph.