General Information

Serial #

1943535

Part Number

10

Total Parts

65

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal and synthetic materials of construction

Dimensions

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

Length

20.0 cm

Width

9.0 cm

Height

9.3 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Exploration and Survey

Category

Photogrammetry

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Ghielmetti

Country

Switzerland

State/Province

Unknown

City

Solothurn

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

Unknown; not used after early 1990s.

Canada

Accessory/part for plotter used in Canada's national mapping program c. 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 Riyad, Saudi Arabia. The A8 was on loan to Terra for the duration of the project's digital compilation stage. [Ref. 1]

Function

To control drawing point lift on plotting table.

Technical

Believed to be original foot pedal control for A8 plotter, used to control the drawing point lift [located on the plotting table]. The drawing point is lowered when the pedal mechanism is depressed then released; raised again when the pedal is depressed a released a second time. The point is lowered as long as the pedal is depressed, and raised when the pedal is released. [Ref. 4, p. 20] Pedal can be locked in depressed position by means of toothed wheel on casing.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Metal plate fixed to casing reads "GHIELMETTI/ SOLOTHURN/ [logo]/ SCHWEIZ SWITZERLAND SUISSE/ A 10/ V 500/ f 50/ ~W~ [blank]/ f [blank]/ No 1943535/ P0B 1/ [A/ SE logo]". 3 symbols/logos appear in raised print on plug casing.

Missing

Appears complete.

Finish

Metal frame painted drab green; metal wire connecting cable has flexible silver metal covering; black synthetic plug has 2 silver metal prongs; black synthetic diamond-patterned covering on underside of foot pedal, and on upper front surface of foot rest.

Decoration

N/A