This month’s example is both map measure and advertisement, specifically produced for use with road atlases from the ADAC breakdown service
Is this little measure a toy, or gimmick? Certainly not the first and it is more than the second, as beside being an advertisement, it is a functional measuring instrument for determining distances. Produced by ADAC Publishing, it was designed to work specifically with ADAC Road Atlases but can also be used with any map that utilises the included scales.
There are three scales on the measuring dial. These are 1:300 000, 1:500 000 and 1:1000 000. The instructions enclosed with the measure inform us that these are best suited for use with Federal Republic of Germany and Europe Travel Maps. The instruction sheet, measuring 100mm x 200mm, gives clear information on how the measure should be used. Though it is simple enough to work out. First rotate the dial so that the v cut-out on the dial is at the top, then roll the slightly toothed plastic tracking wheel forward along a road in an atlas or on a map, then read off the measured distance at the appropriate scale.
The vehicle that the measure shows once operated in the ADAC road fleet. Not only that, but the actual vehicle survives. Wagen No. 12, now heavily restored, joined the ADAC Historic Fleet in 1970. The vehicle image is printed on paper, sandwiched between two pieces of plastic, that encapsulate the internal plastic gearing, plastic tracking wheel and dial. The plastic covering the internal workings is translucent, while the plastic covering the dial and front of the measure is transparent. There is an additional bulge of clear plastic over the top centre of the dial that acts as a modest magnifier. The centre of the measuring dial has the words “ADAC Verlag”- ADAC Publishing.
It is a fun little measure and works, of a fashion. Accuracy is always going to be modest with such an instrument. Sadly, it does not have a smooth operation and my example tends to stick when rotating.
Extreme dimensions are 128mm x 67mm x 7.5mm (or 8.75mm across the bulge). It weighs 33.5g. When purchased by myself, packaging was basic, a grip-seal bag (probably not the original) with plain card stiffener, folded instruction sheet and the measure itself.
ADAC stands for Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club, translating as ‘General German Automobile Club’. Founded in 1903, it is now Europe’s largest automobile association with over 21 million members. The words “ADAC Strassen-Hilfsdienst” on the door of the vehicle shown on the map measure translate as ADAC Road Relief Service. This breakdown assistance service was launched in Germany in 1927. Beside providing roadside breakdown assistance and ambulance helicopters, ADAC has subsidiaries in the insurance and publishing sectors, the latter responsible for the production of this month’s measure.
ADAC operates along similar lines to the UK’s AA and RAC. Each of these motoring organisations also produced map measures specifically for use with their road atlases, albeit far simpler rule type measures. Each has previously featured as Map Measure of the Month.
Three Points of the Compass 