General Information

Serial #

2465

Part Number

1

Total Parts

65

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal; synthetic, paper & glass fittings.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

180.0 cm

Width

143.0 cm

Height

164.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

816.0

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Exploration and Survey

Category

Photogrammetry

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Wild

Country

Switzerland

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

c. late 1960s- early 1990s.

Canada

This plotter used in Canada's national mapping program c. late 1960s-early 1990s, and is an example of the last analogue plotting devices used by the Topographic Service of Canada. With the exception of the Wild A10 [few of which were used in Canada], this machine was the most sophisticated plotter available before digital technology. This machine was converted c. 1995-96 to digitize the motions (X,Y & Z) with the addition of encoders and a control pad which interfaced to a computer. The Kern encoders and control module were installed by Terra Surveys of Ottawa when they rented this machine for the MOM project, completing the large scale mapping of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The A8 was on loan to Terra for the duration of the project's digital compilation stage. [Ref. 1]

Function

To produce a plan or map, on a fixed scale, from a pair of aerial photographs.

Technical

Wild A8 plotter introduced in 1952 (with A7 Autograph): these two machines were most widely used plotters in last half of 20th c.. Analogue plotters like A8 are still in use, but are frequently converted to digital operation by addition of digital shift encoders. This permits semi-automation of mapping process from negatives or prints, but is not equivilant to digital technology, which uses images from digital cameras and which is current standard [c. 2000 +] . This machine was converted c. 1995-96 to digitize the motions (X, Y & Z) with the addition of encoders and a control pad which interfaced to a computer. The original plotter was accurate to ~ 0.02-0.03 mm in X-Y measurements of photos and to ~0.01 mm once converted to digital readouts. A8s were generally used to plot at scales between 1:1000 and 1:10,000. The photographic plates were normally 230 x 230 mm and were generated from photos obtained from survey cameras mounted in aircraft. [Ref. 1] This plotter is likely one of the last produced. [Ref. 5]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"WILD/ HEERBRUGG/ Made in Switzerland/ A8-2465" printed on black plate fixed to frame, below viewer. "[Canadian flag motif]/ NRCan./ RNCan/ A047027/ [barcode]" printed on decal, below. Decal applied to viewer housing reads "R.C./ C.R./ EQ. CODE D'EQUIPE/ DO NOT REMOVE/ 634 006143/ NE PAS ENLEVER". "KERN/ SWISS/ DEC-1" printed on face of control panel. "SCALE FACTOR 0.0025/ SAUDI 1:3500 SCALE FACTOR .00875" printed by hand on tape label above display panel. "EMR/ INVENTORY CONTROL/ R.C./ C.R./ EQ. CODE D'EQUIPE/ DO NOT REMOVE/ 634 026239" & French text printed on decal applied to unit top. Plate on Z-carrier fitting reads "[logo] DATA TECHnology, Inc./ MADE IN U.S.A./ 1-800-331-5797/ MODEL: R253-100-40/5-L/ S/N 9704385". "6X" printed in white on each viewer eyepiece.

Missing

Said to be complete & operational at time of acquisition. See Wild documentation in Supp. Info. file for list of missing accessories:according to TL sources, this model plotter originally supplied with 2 revolving chairs; 2 grid plates [in lined case]; i drawing point sharpener; 1 drawing set; other items also possibly missing.

Finish

Metal structure has olive green wrinkle-textured enamel painted finish; black and silver metal trim & fittings; clear glass optics; off-white enamel painted finish on digital display unit; off-white tissue paper pads fitted to head rest; grey and black synthetic coverings on cables & wiring; brushed silver metal rules Vertical rod for Z-column guide is metal: supported at base by black metal and synthetic disk. Lead (?) counterweight.

Decoration

N/A