Object Details
- Description
- The mathematician Christoph Weiner of Karlsruhe designed these models, which were first published by Brill in 1884. The series (Brill’s Series 11) consisted of eight wire models in wooden frames lined with paper. They illustrated types of singularities in space curves. Unfortunately, one model in the series was not received and the remaining seven lack both the wires and most if not all of the paper coating onto which curves were shown projected in three perpendicular planes. A mark on a torn piece of paper glued to the base of one of the models reads: p" (/) (1. P' = +, t'= +.).
- These example of the models were exhibited at the Columbian Exposition, a World’s Fair held in Chicago in 1893.
- Illustrations and descriptions of more complete versions of the models are shown in Fischer’s books and in the websites of the Göttingen and Groningen collections of mathematical models.
- References:
- L. Brill, Catalog mathematischer Modelle. . ., Darmstadt: L. Brill, 1892, p.23, 73.
- Göttingen Collection of Mathematical Models, presently online at http://modellsammlung.uni-goettingen.de/, accessed September 20, 2019.
- Groningen collection of mathematical models, visible at http://www.math.rug.nl/models/, accessed September 20, 2019.
- G. Fischer, Mathematical Models, vol. I, pp. 58-59, vol. 2, pp. 24-25.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- maker
- L. Brill
- date made
- 1892
- Credit Line
- Gift of Wesleyan University
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- paper (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall (each frame): 11 cm x 19 cm x 12.7 cm; 4 11/32 in x 7 15/32 in x 5 in
- Object Name
- geometric model frames (group of 7)
