Used by timothy Hackworth to design steam Locomotives and given to him by another railway pioneer Robert Hawthorn.Timothy Hackworth (1786-1850), a contemporary of George Stephenson, was a steam railway pioneer, who lived in Shildon, County Durham, for most of his working life. He was the first Locomotive Superintendent of the Stockton and Darlington Railway - the world's first steam powered passenger carrying railway. He also gained a reputation as a locomotive designer in his own right and in 1827 designed the Royal George, the first locomotive that was capable of withstanding the rigours of daily service. This ruler was given to Hackworth by Robert Hawthorn, another north eastern railway pioneer, who went on to found his own engineering firm. This is a very simple wooden tool, which was used to design what were for their day complex machines. It also demonstrates the close working relationships between a handful of north eastern engineers, who in the 1820s and 1830s pioneered the development of the modern railway.
Timothy Hackworth's Engineering Rule
Contributed by Locomotion Shildon
Most of the content on A History of the World is created by the contributors, who are the museums and members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the Â鶹Éç or the British Museum. The Â鶹Éç is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site’s House Rules please Flag This Object.
About this object
Click a button to explore other objects in the timeline
- Location
- Culture
- Period
- Theme
- Size
-
- H:
- 23cm
- W:
- 5cm
- Colour
- Material
View more objects from people in Tees.
Find out more
Podcast
Highlights from the collection
Â鶹Éç iD
Â鶹Éç navigation
Â鶹Éç links
Â鶹Éç © 2014 The Â鶹Éç is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Comments
I am hesitant about locking horns with a Museum - but if am not mistaken your engineering rule is what is known as a "Coggeshall". The Coggeshall rule was introduced in about 1677 (according to Peter Hopp) and was manufactured in various forms well into the Edwardian period. The common form of a "Coggeshall" is a single hinged 2 foot rule with, on one leg, a brass slider recessed into the wood. The slider is engraved with a logarithmic scale - capable of multiplying and dividing to 2 or 3 figure accuracy. The mathematical literature indicates this rule was used by paviers, glaziers, stone masons, timber merchants, carpenters - and fitters. In the photograph posted I detect a glimpse of the slider - a lighter patch on the underside/outside of the central hinge - if this is so - why didn't you show the slider? It doesn't make sense to label the rule as an engineering/design tool without showing the slider. Finally - an interesting side comment - if this is a "Coggeshall" - there should be an edge scale 0 - 200! A 2 foot rule divided into 200 units - decimalisation of the imperial foot! This decimalisation of the imperial foot continued upto the eve of the Great War - and was mysteriously abandoned.