Box of Dividers
Accession Number: 2012.ast.13 (DAA-0104)
This is a long rectangular box containing 11 metal compass dividers. These are wrapped in wax paper and contained in a cloth drawstring bag. Each divider is 18 cm long and has hinged legs ending in sharp points.
Alternative Name: Compass divider
Metal: Iron Alloy, Cardboard, Cloth, Waxed Paper
Original label on top of box: “The GENUINE AND ORIGINAL IRWIN BITS, MADE IN U.S. of A., THE IRWIN A[…]IT COMPANY, WILMINGTON, OHIO, U.S. of A.”
On the side of the box: “62-T 17/16 1/4 Dozen
MAINBOR Auger Bits
Made in U.S.A.
The IRWIN Bit
Reg. U.S. Pat Off.”
Written in pen on the purple moving label: “dept.”
Paper label attached to original box: “24 dividers, Sept. 1947.”
On wax paper in light pencil: “13B/68.”
On cloth bag, tag with: “Royal Canadian Air Force, Technical Service Stores, Ottawa.”
On 10 of the dividers: “R.C.A.F. Ref. No. 13B/68.” Machine engraved on one of these is “152”, on another is hand engraved “R. Pease.”
On the other divider: “Charvos Inc. U.S.A.”
Box: Height = 5, Width = 26.5, Length = 6.5, Dividers: Height = 18 x Width = 1.5 x Length = 0.4
To measure, transfer or mark off distances – esp. on maps or star charts.
Good: The box is not original to the dividers; the cloth bag appears to be. The box is in poor condition, with the label torn and damaged in multiple places. THe box is worn at the corners. A moving label ahs been stuck to the exterior of the box.
Associated Instruments:
Royal Canadian Air Force (10 dividers), and Charvos Inc., USA (1 divider).
Date of Manufacture: c. 1945
University of Toronto Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
This object appears to have some association with the RCAF, probably during WW2.
“Divider.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. [15/10/2018]