Primitive Fixed-Scale Polar Planimeter. Ashcroft.

Description:
- Primitive Fixed Scale Polar Planimeter, with two articulated arms and its measurement mechanism, manufactured in the mid 19th century.
- This planimeter is one of the first to be made, probably before those made by the Swiss Jakob Amsler-Laffon in 1854.
- It has no mark or inscription that identifies it, although on the lid of the wooden box, which is missing the leather that covered it, the following inscription can be seen: "The Ashcroft Manufacturing Co.
- The Ashcrof factory began to manufacture around 1852, a date that is not known exactly, so this planimeter could be one of the first instruments manufactured by the Ashcrof firm, which leads us to believe that it could have been manufactured at the end of the first half of the 19th century.
- The Fixed End Arm has a very fine point needle, in order to minimise damage to the paper. This needle is stuck and remains fixed in one point, for which it is helped with a small weight on it. At the opposite end is the joint with the other Movable End Arm.
- The Movable End Arm has a blunt needle, so that it can be slid around the perimeter of the surface to be calculated, for which purpose the above-mentioned end is held with the fingers, by means of a tiny pin or shaft. At the opposite end is the joint with the other Fixed End Arm.
- The Measuring Mechanism with its scale is held by the Movable End Arm, and is placed between both Arms next to the joint.
- The Movable End Arm, next to the support base of the shaft supporting the Movable Measurement Ring, is engraved with the number "5212".
- It has the original Box, which is made of wood covered with a very fine purple leather on the outside and purple velvet on the inside. It is in very bad condition, so it needs restoration. The cover has the manufacturer"s brand printed on it.
- The aluminium plate, which is nailed to the box, has the inscription "ME H 688" engraved on it.
- We have not been able to extract any data based on the inscriptions on the Planimeter Arm and the Box Plate.

Conservation and Damage:
- The Planimeter is in perfect condition, except that the cylindrical weight has not been conserved. It is very feasible to make a new one in brass, as the place inside the box where the weight was kept has been conserved.
- The box is broken into several parts, the lock being in good condition and its general structure, so that its restoration would not cause any major problems.

Comments:
- Both the measurements and the weight are approximate.
- It is very rare to find, since it is one of the first planimeters that were manufactured.
- The fact that the object has a distinctive mark or contrast is of great importance in order to identify data such as its author, the place where it was manufactured and other details.
- Very interesting as a collector- The object presents the wear and tear of its time.
- Because it is inevitable the differences of tonalities between photos and reality, it must be kept in mind that the tones of the colours of the photos are not exactly equal to the tones of the real colours.
- The Object for sale is the one corresponding to the photos, which in turn are complemented in this Description, with the aim of providing a better knowledge of the Object, and never being a detailed exhibition of it.
- The data provided here are not contrasted personal opinions.
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